Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Bensenville, IL
Plan your garden around Bensenville, IL's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
April 16
Safe May 1
Typical Apr 16
Risky Apr 3
First Fall Frost
October 28
Safe Oct 15
Typical Oct 28
Risky Nov 11
Growing Season
193 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 6a
A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.
Data: NOAA station CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP, IL US, 4.5 km away.
—
days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | Apr 23 – May 7 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | Apr 30 – May 7 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Apr 23 – May 7 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | — | Apr 30 – May 7 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | — | Apr 30 – May 7 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Apr 16 – Apr 30 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | Sep 2 – Sep 16 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | — | Sep 2 – Sep 16 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | Aug 19 – Sep 2 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | Sep 16 – Sep 23 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | Aug 26 – Sep 2 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | Aug 19 – Aug 26 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | Aug 5 – Aug 19 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | Aug 19 – Sep 2 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | — | Sep 16 – Sep 30 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | Aug 19 – Sep 2 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Sep 30 – Oct 14 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Apr 30 – May 14 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Mar 5 – Mar 12 | — | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | Sep 2 – Sep 16 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | — | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Apr 23 – May 7 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | — | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Apr 23 – May 7 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Apr 23 – May 7 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Bensenville, IL?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP, IL US station, the last spring frost in Bensenville typically falls around April 16. A cautious gardener might wait until May 1 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while April 3 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Bensenville, IL in fall?
The first fall frost in Bensenville typically arrives around October 28. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as October 15; in milder years it can hold off until November 11.
How long is the growing season in Bensenville, IL?
Bensenville's average frost-free growing season is about 193 days, running from the typical last spring frost (April 16) to the typical first fall frost (October 28).
What USDA hardiness zone is Bensenville, IL in?
Bensenville, IL is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. A classic four-season climate with cold winters and a solid summer growing season.