When to plant okra in Illinois
Sow outdoors in Chicago
May 1–May 15
Across Illinois the window opens between April 25 and May 22. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Sow outdoors, Chicago
- May 1–May 15
- Last sowing for a harvest
- Aug 18
- Last frost, Chicago
- Apr 10
Sow outdoors 3–5 weeks after the last frost. Okra wants hot soil and hot nights. It is one of the last crops to go in.
Okra planting dates by city
Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
ChicagoMay 1–May 15
AuroraMay 10–May 24
NapervilleMay 19–Jun 2
JolietMay 10–May 24
RockfordMay 15–May 29
ElginMay 17–May 31
SpringfieldMay 6–May 20
PeoriaMay 7–May 21
ChampaignMay 6–May 20
WaukeganMay 21–Jun 4
CiceroMay 2–May 16
BloomingtonMay 16–May 30
SchaumburgMay 21–Jun 4
EvanstonMay 17–May 31
Arlington HeightsMay 10–May 24
BolingbrookMay 11–May 25
DecaturMay 5–May 19
SkokieMay 17–May 31
PalatineMay 16–May 30
Des PlainesMay 7–May 21
Orland ParkMay 10–May 24
Oak LawnMay 1–May 15
Mount ProspectMay 10–May 24
Tinley ParkMay 14–May 28
BerwynMay 2–May 16
WheatonMay 19–Jun 2
NormalMay 16–May 30
Oak ParkMay 2–May 16
Hoffman EstatesMay 21–Jun 4
Downers GroveMay 19–Jun 2
All 121 cities
| City | Sow outdoors | Last frost |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | May 1 to May 15 | Apr 10 |
| Aurora | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Naperville | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Joliet | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Rockford | May 15 to May 29 | Apr 24 |
| Elgin | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Springfield | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 15 |
| Peoria | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Champaign | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 15 |
| Waukegan | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Cicero | May 2 to May 16 | Apr 11 |
| Bloomington | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Schaumburg | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Evanston | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Arlington Heights | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Bolingbrook | May 11 to May 25 | Apr 20 |
| Decatur | May 5 to May 19 | Apr 14 |
| Skokie | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Palatine | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Des Plaines | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Orland Park | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Oak Lawn | May 1 to May 15 | Apr 10 |
| Mount Prospect | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Tinley Park | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| Berwyn | May 2 to May 16 | Apr 11 |
| Wheaton | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Normal | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Oak Park | May 2 to May 16 | Apr 11 |
| Hoffman Estates | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Downers Grove | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Plainfield | May 11 to May 25 | Apr 20 |
| Glenview | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Elmhurst | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Lombard | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Buffalo Grove | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Moline | May 15 to May 29 | Apr 24 |
| Crystal Lake | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Romeoville | May 11 to May 25 | Apr 20 |
| Bartlett | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| DeKalb | May 15 to May 29 | Apr 24 |
| Belleville | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 12 |
| Oswego | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Urbana | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 15 |
| Carol Stream | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Quincy | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 8 |
| Park Ridge | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Wheeling | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Streamwood | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Carpentersville | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Hanover Park | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Rock Island | May 15 to May 29 | Apr 24 |
| Addison | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Calumet City | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| Northbrook | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| North Chicago | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Woodridge | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| St. Charles | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Mundelein | May 20 to Jun 3 | Apr 29 |
| O'Fallon | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 12 |
| Glendale Heights | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Elk Grove Village | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Pekin | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Algonquin | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Highland Park | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Gurnee | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Niles | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| McHenry | May 22 to Jun 5 | May 1 |
| Huntley | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| New Lenox | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Glen Ellyn | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Lake in the Hills | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Galesburg | May 11 to May 25 | Apr 20 |
| Burbank | May 1 to May 15 | Apr 10 |
| Danville | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 21 |
| Lansing | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| Lockport | May 11 to May 25 | Apr 20 |
| Wilmette | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Round Lake Beach | May 15 to May 29 | Apr 24 |
| Vernon Hills | May 20 to Jun 3 | Apr 29 |
| Granite City | Apr 25 to May 9 | Apr 4 |
| Oak Forest | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| Yorkville | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Batavia | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Chicago Heights | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| Edwardsville | Apr 25 to May 9 | Apr 4 |
| Woodstock | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| South Elgin | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Belvidere | May 15 to May 29 | Apr 24 |
| West Chicago | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Alton | Apr 25 to May 9 | Apr 4 |
| Homer Glen | May 11 to May 25 | Apr 20 |
| Morton Grove | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Zion | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Westmont | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Melrose Park | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Collinsville | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 8 |
| Loves Park | May 15 to May 29 | Apr 24 |
| Rolling Meadows | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Elmwood Park | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Lisle | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Kankakee | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Maywood | May 2 to May 16 | Apr 11 |
| Freeport | May 17 to May 31 | Apr 26 |
| Machesney Park | May 22 to Jun 5 | May 1 |
| Roselle | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| Bloomingdale | May 21 to Jun 4 | Apr 30 |
| East Peoria | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
| Darien | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Montgomery | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 19 |
| Villa Park | May 19 to Jun 2 | Apr 28 |
| Carbondale | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 9 |
| Blue Island | May 1 to May 15 | Apr 10 |
| Frankfort | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| Grayslake | May 20 to Jun 3 | Apr 29 |
| Geneva | May 16 to May 30 | Apr 25 |
| Park Forest | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| South Holland | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| Libertyville | May 20 to Jun 3 | Apr 29 |
| Crest Hill | May 11 to May 25 | Apr 20 |
| Dolton | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 23 |
| East Moline | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 16 |
Questions
When should I plant okra in Illinois?
In Chicago, sow outdoors from May 1 to May 15. Across Illinois the window opens between April 25 and May 22, depending on the local last frost.
How is this date worked out?
Sow outdoors 3–5 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.
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Okra in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming