When to plant brussels sprouts in Illinois

Plant out in Chicago

Mar 27–Apr 10

Across Illinois the window opens between March 21 and April 17. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Chicago: Feb 13–Feb 27
Plant out, Chicago: Mar 27–Apr 10
Fall planting, Chicago: Jul 16–Jul 30
Last frost, Chicago: Apr 10

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out up to 2 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 14–16 weeks before the first frost. Sprouts taste best after a few frosts. Plan the harvest for late fall.

Brussels sprouts planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

ChicagoMar 27–Apr 10

AuroraApr 5–Apr 19

NapervilleApr 14–Apr 28

JolietApr 5–Apr 19

RockfordApr 10–Apr 24

ElginApr 12–Apr 26

SpringfieldApr 1–Apr 15

PeoriaApr 2–Apr 16

ChampaignApr 1–Apr 15

WaukeganApr 16–Apr 30

CiceroMar 28–Apr 11

BloomingtonApr 11–Apr 25

SchaumburgApr 16–Apr 30

EvanstonApr 12–Apr 26

Arlington HeightsApr 5–Apr 19

BolingbrookApr 6–Apr 20

DecaturMar 31–Apr 14

SkokieApr 12–Apr 26

PalatineApr 11–Apr 25

Des PlainesApr 2–Apr 16

Orland ParkApr 5–Apr 19

Oak LawnMar 27–Apr 10

Mount ProspectApr 5–Apr 19

Tinley ParkApr 9–Apr 23

BerwynMar 28–Apr 11

WheatonApr 14–Apr 28

NormalApr 11–Apr 25

Oak ParkMar 28–Apr 11

Hoffman EstatesApr 16–Apr 30

Downers GroveApr 14–Apr 28

All 121 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant brussels sprouts in Illinois?

In Chicago, plant out from March 27 to April 10. Across Illinois the window opens between March 21 and April 17, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out up to 2 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 14–16 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Illinois

Brussels sprouts in other states

Frost dates for every city in Illinois