When to plant peas in Illinois

Sow outdoors in Chicago

Feb 27–Mar 13

Across Illinois the window opens between February 21 and March 20. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Chicago: Feb 27–Mar 13
Fall planting, Chicago: Aug 27–Sep 10
Last frost, Chicago: Apr 10

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Peas handle frost. The usual mistake is sowing too late and losing the crop to summer heat.

Peas planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

ChicagoFeb 27–Mar 13

AuroraMar 8–Mar 22

NapervilleMar 17–Mar 31

JolietMar 8–Mar 22

RockfordMar 13–Mar 27

ElginMar 15–Mar 29

SpringfieldMar 4–Mar 18

PeoriaMar 5–Mar 19

ChampaignMar 4–Mar 18

WaukeganMar 19–Apr 2

CiceroFeb 28–Mar 14

BloomingtonMar 14–Mar 28

SchaumburgMar 19–Apr 2

EvanstonMar 15–Mar 29

Arlington HeightsMar 8–Mar 22

BolingbrookMar 9–Mar 23

DecaturMar 3–Mar 17

SkokieMar 15–Mar 29

PalatineMar 14–Mar 28

Des PlainesMar 5–Mar 19

Orland ParkMar 8–Mar 22

Oak LawnFeb 27–Mar 13

Mount ProspectMar 8–Mar 22

Tinley ParkMar 12–Mar 26

BerwynFeb 28–Mar 14

WheatonMar 17–Mar 31

NormalMar 14–Mar 28

Oak ParkFeb 28–Mar 14

Hoffman EstatesMar 19–Apr 2

Downers GroveMar 17–Mar 31

All 121 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant peas in Illinois?

In Chicago, sow outdoors from February 27 to March 13. Across Illinois the window opens between February 21 and March 20, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Illinois

Peas in other states

Frost dates for every city in Illinois