When to plant green beans in Illinois

Green beans
Sow outdoors in Chicago
Apr 17–May 8

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.

Sow outdoors, Chicago
Apr 17–May 8
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 23
Last frost, Chicago
Apr 10

Sow outdoors 1–4 weeks after the last frost. Bush beans ripen all at once, so sow a new row every two to three weeks.

Green beans planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
ChicagoApr 17–May 8
AuroraApr 26–May 17
NapervilleMay 5–May 26
JolietApr 26–May 17
RockfordMay 1–May 22
ElginMay 3–May 24
SpringfieldApr 22–May 13
PeoriaApr 23–May 14
ChampaignApr 22–May 13
WaukeganMay 7–May 28
CiceroApr 18–May 9
BloomingtonMay 2–May 23
SchaumburgMay 7–May 28
EvanstonMay 3–May 24
Arlington HeightsApr 26–May 17
BolingbrookApr 27–May 18
DecaturApr 21–May 12
SkokieMay 3–May 24
PalatineMay 2–May 23
Des PlainesApr 23–May 14
Orland ParkApr 26–May 17
Oak LawnApr 17–May 8
Mount ProspectApr 26–May 17
Tinley ParkApr 30–May 21
BerwynApr 18–May 9
WheatonMay 5–May 26
NormalMay 2–May 23
Oak ParkApr 18–May 9
Hoffman EstatesMay 7–May 28
Downers GroveMay 5–May 26
All 121 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
ChicagoApr 17 to May 8Apr 10
AuroraApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
NapervilleMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
JolietApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
RockfordMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
ElginMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
SpringfieldApr 22 to May 13Apr 15
PeoriaApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
ChampaignApr 22 to May 13Apr 15
WaukeganMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
CiceroApr 18 to May 9Apr 11
BloomingtonMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
SchaumburgMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
EvanstonMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
Arlington HeightsApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
BolingbrookApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
DecaturApr 21 to May 12Apr 14
SkokieMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
PalatineMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
Des PlainesApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
Orland ParkApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
Oak LawnApr 17 to May 8Apr 10
Mount ProspectApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
Tinley ParkApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
BerwynApr 18 to May 9Apr 11
WheatonMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
NormalMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
Oak ParkApr 18 to May 9Apr 11
Hoffman EstatesMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
Downers GroveMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
PlainfieldApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
GlenviewMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
ElmhurstApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
LombardMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
Buffalo GroveApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
MolineMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
Crystal LakeMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
RomeovilleApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
BartlettMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
DeKalbMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
BellevilleApr 19 to May 10Apr 12
OswegoApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
UrbanaApr 22 to May 13Apr 15
Carol StreamMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
QuincyApr 15 to May 6Apr 8
Park RidgeApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
WheelingApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
StreamwoodMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
CarpentersvilleMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
Hanover ParkMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
Rock IslandMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
AddisonApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
Calumet CityApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
NorthbrookMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
North ChicagoMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
WoodridgeMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
St. CharlesMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
MundeleinMay 6 to May 27Apr 29
O'FallonApr 19 to May 10Apr 12
Glendale HeightsMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
Elk Grove VillageApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
PekinApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
AlgonquinMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
Highland ParkMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
GurneeMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
NilesApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
McHenryMay 8 to May 29May 1
HuntleyMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
New LenoxApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
Glen EllynMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
Lake in the HillsMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
GalesburgApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
BurbankApr 17 to May 8Apr 10
DanvilleApr 28 to May 19Apr 21
LansingApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
LockportApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
WilmetteMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
Round Lake BeachMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
Vernon HillsMay 6 to May 27Apr 29
Granite CityApr 11 to May 2Apr 4
Oak ForestApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
YorkvilleMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
BataviaApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
Chicago HeightsApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
EdwardsvilleApr 11 to May 2Apr 4
WoodstockMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
South ElginMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
BelvidereMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
West ChicagoMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
AltonApr 11 to May 2Apr 4
Homer GlenApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
Morton GroveMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
ZionMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
WestmontMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
Melrose ParkApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
CollinsvilleApr 15 to May 6Apr 8
Loves ParkMay 1 to May 22Apr 24
Rolling MeadowsApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
Elmwood ParkApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
LisleMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
KankakeeApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
MaywoodApr 18 to May 9Apr 11
FreeportMay 3 to May 24Apr 26
Machesney ParkMay 8 to May 29May 1
RoselleMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
BloomingdaleMay 7 to May 28Apr 30
East PeoriaApr 23 to May 14Apr 16
DarienApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
MontgomeryApr 26 to May 17Apr 19
Villa ParkMay 5 to May 26Apr 28
CarbondaleApr 16 to May 7Apr 9
Blue IslandApr 17 to May 8Apr 10
FrankfortApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
GrayslakeMay 6 to May 27Apr 29
GenevaMay 2 to May 23Apr 25
Park ForestApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
South HollandApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
LibertyvilleMay 6 to May 27Apr 29
Crest HillApr 27 to May 18Apr 20
DoltonApr 30 to May 21Apr 23
East MolineApr 23 to May 14Apr 16

Questions

When should I plant green beans in Illinois?

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

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 1–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Illinois

Green beans in other states

Frost dates for every city in Illinois