When to plant strawberries in Illinois
Plant out in Chicago
Mar 13–Mar 27
Across Illinois the window opens between March 7 and April 3. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Plant out, Chicago
- Mar 13–Mar 27
- Last frost, Chicago
- Apr 10
Set out crowns 2–4 weeks before the last frost. June-bearing plants fruit the year after planting. Pinch off first-year flowers.
Strawberries planting dates by city
Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
ChicagoMar 13–Mar 27
AuroraMar 22–Apr 5
NapervilleMar 31–Apr 14
JolietMar 22–Apr 5
RockfordMar 27–Apr 10
ElginMar 29–Apr 12
SpringfieldMar 18–Apr 1
PeoriaMar 19–Apr 2
ChampaignMar 18–Apr 1
WaukeganApr 2–Apr 16
CiceroMar 14–Mar 28
BloomingtonMar 28–Apr 11
SchaumburgApr 2–Apr 16
EvanstonMar 29–Apr 12
Arlington HeightsMar 22–Apr 5
BolingbrookMar 23–Apr 6
DecaturMar 17–Mar 31
SkokieMar 29–Apr 12
PalatineMar 28–Apr 11
Des PlainesMar 19–Apr 2
Orland ParkMar 22–Apr 5
Oak LawnMar 13–Mar 27
Mount ProspectMar 22–Apr 5
Tinley ParkMar 26–Apr 9
BerwynMar 14–Mar 28
WheatonMar 31–Apr 14
NormalMar 28–Apr 11
Oak ParkMar 14–Mar 28
Hoffman EstatesApr 2–Apr 16
Downers GroveMar 31–Apr 14
All 121 cities
| City | Plant out | Last frost |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Mar 13 to Mar 27 | Apr 10 |
| Aurora | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Naperville | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Joliet | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Rockford | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| Elgin | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Springfield | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 |
| Peoria | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Champaign | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 |
| Waukegan | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Cicero | Mar 14 to Mar 28 | Apr 11 |
| Bloomington | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Schaumburg | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Evanston | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Arlington Heights | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Bolingbrook | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
| Decatur | Mar 17 to Mar 31 | Apr 14 |
| Skokie | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Palatine | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Des Plaines | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Orland Park | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Oak Lawn | Mar 13 to Mar 27 | Apr 10 |
| Mount Prospect | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Tinley Park | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| Berwyn | Mar 14 to Mar 28 | Apr 11 |
| Wheaton | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Normal | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Oak Park | Mar 14 to Mar 28 | Apr 11 |
| Hoffman Estates | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Downers Grove | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Plainfield | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
| Glenview | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Elmhurst | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Lombard | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Buffalo Grove | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Moline | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| Crystal Lake | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Romeoville | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
| Bartlett | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| DeKalb | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| Belleville | Mar 15 to Mar 29 | Apr 12 |
| Oswego | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Urbana | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 |
| Carol Stream | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Quincy | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | Apr 8 |
| Park Ridge | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Wheeling | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Streamwood | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Carpentersville | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Hanover Park | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Rock Island | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| Addison | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Calumet City | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| Northbrook | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| North Chicago | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Woodridge | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| St. Charles | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Mundelein | Apr 1 to Apr 15 | Apr 29 |
| O'Fallon | Mar 15 to Mar 29 | Apr 12 |
| Glendale Heights | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Elk Grove Village | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Pekin | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Algonquin | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Highland Park | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Gurnee | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Niles | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| McHenry | Apr 3 to Apr 17 | May 1 |
| Huntley | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| New Lenox | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Glen Ellyn | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Lake in the Hills | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Galesburg | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
| Burbank | Mar 13 to Mar 27 | Apr 10 |
| Danville | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 21 |
| Lansing | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| Lockport | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
| Wilmette | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Round Lake Beach | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| Vernon Hills | Apr 1 to Apr 15 | Apr 29 |
| Granite City | Mar 7 to Mar 21 | Apr 4 |
| Oak Forest | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| Yorkville | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Batavia | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Chicago Heights | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| Edwardsville | Mar 7 to Mar 21 | Apr 4 |
| Woodstock | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| South Elgin | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Belvidere | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| West Chicago | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Alton | Mar 7 to Mar 21 | Apr 4 |
| Homer Glen | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
| Morton Grove | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Zion | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Westmont | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Melrose Park | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Collinsville | Mar 11 to Mar 25 | Apr 8 |
| Loves Park | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 |
| Rolling Meadows | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Elmwood Park | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Lisle | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Kankakee | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Maywood | Mar 14 to Mar 28 | Apr 11 |
| Freeport | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
| Machesney Park | Apr 3 to Apr 17 | May 1 |
| Roselle | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| Bloomingdale | Apr 2 to Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| East Peoria | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
| Darien | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Montgomery | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 |
| Villa Park | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| Carbondale | Mar 12 to Mar 26 | Apr 9 |
| Blue Island | Mar 13 to Mar 27 | Apr 10 |
| Frankfort | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| Grayslake | Apr 1 to Apr 15 | Apr 29 |
| Geneva | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Apr 25 |
| Park Forest | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| South Holland | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| Libertyville | Apr 1 to Apr 15 | Apr 29 |
| Crest Hill | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 |
| Dolton | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 |
| East Moline | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 |
Questions
When should I plant strawberries in Illinois?
In Chicago, plant out from March 13 to March 27. Across Illinois the window opens between March 7 and April 3, depending on the local last frost.
How is this date worked out?
Set out crowns 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.
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Strawberries in other states
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