When to plant pumpkins in Illinois
Sow outdoors in Chicago
Apr 24–May 8
Across Illinois the window opens between April 18 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Sow outdoors, Chicago
- Apr 24–May 8
- Last sowing for a harvest
- Jun 24
- Last frost, Chicago
- Apr 10
Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.
Pumpkins planting dates by city
Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
ChicagoApr 24–May 8
AuroraMay 3–May 17
NapervilleMay 12–May 26
JolietMay 3–May 17
RockfordMay 8–May 22
ElginMay 10–May 24
SpringfieldApr 29–May 13
PeoriaApr 30–May 14
ChampaignApr 29–May 13
WaukeganMay 14–May 28
CiceroApr 25–May 9
BloomingtonMay 9–May 23
SchaumburgMay 14–May 28
EvanstonMay 10–May 24
Arlington HeightsMay 3–May 17
BolingbrookMay 4–May 18
DecaturApr 28–May 12
SkokieMay 10–May 24
PalatineMay 9–May 23
Des PlainesApr 30–May 14
Orland ParkMay 3–May 17
Oak LawnApr 24–May 8
Mount ProspectMay 3–May 17
Tinley ParkMay 7–May 21
BerwynApr 25–May 9
WheatonMay 12–May 26
NormalMay 9–May 23
Oak ParkApr 25–May 9
Hoffman EstatesMay 14–May 28
Downers GroveMay 12–May 26
All 121 cities
| City | Sow outdoors | Last frost |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Apr 24 to May 8 | Apr 10 |
| Aurora | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Naperville | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Joliet | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Rockford | May 8 to May 22 | Apr 24 |
| Elgin | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Springfield | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 15 |
| Peoria | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Champaign | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 15 |
| Waukegan | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Cicero | Apr 25 to May 9 | Apr 11 |
| Bloomington | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Schaumburg | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Evanston | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Arlington Heights | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Bolingbrook | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 20 |
| Decatur | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 14 |
| Skokie | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Palatine | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Des Plaines | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Orland Park | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Oak Lawn | Apr 24 to May 8 | Apr 10 |
| Mount Prospect | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Tinley Park | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| Berwyn | Apr 25 to May 9 | Apr 11 |
| Wheaton | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Normal | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Oak Park | Apr 25 to May 9 | Apr 11 |
| Hoffman Estates | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Downers Grove | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Plainfield | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 20 |
| Glenview | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Elmhurst | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Lombard | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Buffalo Grove | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Moline | May 8 to May 22 | Apr 24 |
| Crystal Lake | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Romeoville | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 20 |
| Bartlett | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| DeKalb | May 8 to May 22 | Apr 24 |
| Belleville | Apr 26 to May 10 | Apr 12 |
| Oswego | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Urbana | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 15 |
| Carol Stream | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Quincy | Apr 22 to May 6 | Apr 8 |
| Park Ridge | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Wheeling | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Streamwood | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Carpentersville | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Hanover Park | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Rock Island | May 8 to May 22 | Apr 24 |
| Addison | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Calumet City | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| Northbrook | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| North Chicago | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Woodridge | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| St. Charles | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Mundelein | May 13 to May 27 | Apr 29 |
| O'Fallon | Apr 26 to May 10 | Apr 12 |
| Glendale Heights | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Elk Grove Village | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Pekin | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Algonquin | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Highland Park | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Gurnee | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Niles | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| McHenry | May 15 to May 29 | May 1 |
| Huntley | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| New Lenox | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Glen Ellyn | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Lake in the Hills | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Galesburg | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 20 |
| Burbank | Apr 24 to May 8 | Apr 10 |
| Danville | May 5 to May 19 | Apr 21 |
| Lansing | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| Lockport | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 20 |
| Wilmette | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Round Lake Beach | May 8 to May 22 | Apr 24 |
| Vernon Hills | May 13 to May 27 | Apr 29 |
| Granite City | Apr 18 to May 2 | Apr 4 |
| Oak Forest | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| Yorkville | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Batavia | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Chicago Heights | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| Edwardsville | Apr 18 to May 2 | Apr 4 |
| Woodstock | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| South Elgin | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Belvidere | May 8 to May 22 | Apr 24 |
| West Chicago | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Alton | Apr 18 to May 2 | Apr 4 |
| Homer Glen | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 20 |
| Morton Grove | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Zion | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Westmont | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Melrose Park | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Collinsville | Apr 22 to May 6 | Apr 8 |
| Loves Park | May 8 to May 22 | Apr 24 |
| Rolling Meadows | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Elmwood Park | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Lisle | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Kankakee | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Maywood | Apr 25 to May 9 | Apr 11 |
| Freeport | May 10 to May 24 | Apr 26 |
| Machesney Park | May 15 to May 29 | May 1 |
| Roselle | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| Bloomingdale | May 14 to May 28 | Apr 30 |
| East Peoria | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
| Darien | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Montgomery | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 19 |
| Villa Park | May 12 to May 26 | Apr 28 |
| Carbondale | Apr 23 to May 7 | Apr 9 |
| Blue Island | Apr 24 to May 8 | Apr 10 |
| Frankfort | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| Grayslake | May 13 to May 27 | Apr 29 |
| Geneva | May 9 to May 23 | Apr 25 |
| Park Forest | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| South Holland | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| Libertyville | May 13 to May 27 | Apr 29 |
| Crest Hill | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 20 |
| Dolton | May 7 to May 21 | Apr 23 |
| East Moline | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 16 |
Questions
When should I plant pumpkins in Illinois?
In Chicago, sow outdoors from April 24 to May 8. Across Illinois the window opens between April 18 and May 15, depending on the local last frost.
How is this date worked out?
Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.
More for Illinois
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Sunflowers
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Daffodil bulbs
Corn
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Asparagus
Watermelon
Lettuce
Green beans
Pumpkins in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
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- Georgia
- Idaho
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- Kentucky
- Louisiana
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