When to plant basil in Illinois

Plant out in Chicago

Apr 17–May 1

Across Illinois the window opens between April 11 and May 8. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Chicago: Feb 27–Mar 13
Plant out, Chicago: Apr 17–May 1
Sow outdoors, Chicago: Apr 17–May 1
Last sowing for a harvest: Aug 8
Last frost, Chicago: Apr 10

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

ChicagoApr 17–May 1

AuroraApr 26–May 10

NapervilleMay 5–May 19

JolietApr 26–May 10

RockfordMay 1–May 15

ElginMay 3–May 17

SpringfieldApr 22–May 6

PeoriaApr 23–May 7

ChampaignApr 22–May 6

WaukeganMay 7–May 21

CiceroApr 18–May 2

BloomingtonMay 2–May 16

SchaumburgMay 7–May 21

EvanstonMay 3–May 17

Arlington HeightsApr 26–May 10

BolingbrookApr 27–May 11

DecaturApr 21–May 5

SkokieMay 3–May 17

PalatineMay 2–May 16

Des PlainesApr 23–May 7

Orland ParkApr 26–May 10

Oak LawnApr 17–May 1

Mount ProspectApr 26–May 10

Tinley ParkApr 30–May 14

BerwynApr 18–May 2

WheatonMay 5–May 19

NormalMay 2–May 16

Oak ParkApr 18–May 2

Hoffman EstatesMay 7–May 21

Downers GroveMay 5–May 19

All 121 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Sow outdoors	Last frost
Chicago	Feb 27 to Mar 13	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 10
Aurora	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Naperville	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Joliet	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Rockford	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Elgin	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Springfield	Mar 4 to Mar 18	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Peoria	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Champaign	Mar 4 to Mar 18	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Waukegan	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Cicero	Feb 28 to Mar 14	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
Bloomington	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Schaumburg	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Evanston	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Arlington Heights	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Bolingbrook	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Decatur	Mar 3 to Mar 17	Apr 21 to May 5	Apr 21 to May 5	Apr 14
Skokie	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Palatine	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Des Plaines	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Orland Park	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Oak Lawn	Feb 27 to Mar 13	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 10
Mount Prospect	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Tinley Park	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Berwyn	Feb 28 to Mar 14	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
Wheaton	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Normal	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Oak Park	Feb 28 to Mar 14	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
Hoffman Estates	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Downers Grove	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Plainfield	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Glenview	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Elmhurst	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Lombard	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Buffalo Grove	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Moline	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Crystal Lake	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Romeoville	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Bartlett	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
DeKalb	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Belleville	Mar 1 to Mar 15	Apr 19 to May 3	Apr 19 to May 3	Apr 12
Oswego	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Urbana	Mar 4 to Mar 18	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 22 to May 6	Apr 15
Carol Stream	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Quincy	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Park Ridge	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Wheeling	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Streamwood	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Carpentersville	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Hanover Park	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Rock Island	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Addison	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Calumet City	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Northbrook	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
North Chicago	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Woodridge	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
St. Charles	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Mundelein	Mar 18 to Apr 1	May 6 to May 20	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
O'Fallon	Mar 1 to Mar 15	Apr 19 to May 3	Apr 19 to May 3	Apr 12
Glendale Heights	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Elk Grove Village	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Pekin	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Algonquin	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Highland Park	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Gurnee	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Niles	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
McHenry	Mar 20 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	May 1
Huntley	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
New Lenox	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Glen Ellyn	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Lake in the Hills	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Galesburg	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Burbank	Feb 27 to Mar 13	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 10
Danville	Mar 10 to Mar 24	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 28 to May 12	Apr 21
Lansing	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Lockport	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Wilmette	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Round Lake Beach	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Vernon Hills	Mar 18 to Apr 1	May 6 to May 20	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Granite City	Feb 21 to Mar 7	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Oak Forest	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Yorkville	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Batavia	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Chicago Heights	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Edwardsville	Feb 21 to Mar 7	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Woodstock	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
South Elgin	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Belvidere	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
West Chicago	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Alton	Feb 21 to Mar 7	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 11 to Apr 25	Apr 4
Homer Glen	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Morton Grove	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Zion	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Westmont	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Melrose Park	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Collinsville	Feb 25 to Mar 11	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 15 to Apr 29	Apr 8
Loves Park	Mar 13 to Mar 27	May 1 to May 15	May 1 to May 15	Apr 24
Rolling Meadows	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Elmwood Park	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Lisle	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Kankakee	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Maywood	Feb 28 to Mar 14	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 18 to May 2	Apr 11
Freeport	Mar 15 to Mar 29	May 3 to May 17	May 3 to May 17	Apr 26
Machesney Park	Mar 20 to Apr 3	May 8 to May 22	May 8 to May 22	May 1
Roselle	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
Bloomingdale	Mar 19 to Apr 2	May 7 to May 21	May 7 to May 21	Apr 30
East Peoria	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16
Darien	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Montgomery	Mar 8 to Mar 22	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 19
Villa Park	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 5 to May 19	May 5 to May 19	Apr 28
Carbondale	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Apr 16 to Apr 30	Apr 9
Blue Island	Feb 27 to Mar 13	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 17 to May 1	Apr 10
Frankfort	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Grayslake	Mar 18 to Apr 1	May 6 to May 20	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Geneva	Mar 14 to Mar 28	May 2 to May 16	May 2 to May 16	Apr 25
Park Forest	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
South Holland	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
Libertyville	Mar 18 to Apr 1	May 6 to May 20	May 6 to May 20	Apr 29
Crest Hill	Mar 9 to Mar 23	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 27 to May 11	Apr 20
Dolton	Mar 12 to Mar 26	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 23
East Moline	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 23 to May 7	Apr 16

Questions

When should I plant basil in Illinois?

In Chicago, plant out from April 17 to May 1. Across Illinois the window opens between April 11 and May 8, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Illinois

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Illinois