When to plant swiss chard in Illinois
Sow outdoors in Chicago
Mar 27–Apr 24
Across Illinois the window opens between March 21 and April 17. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Sow outdoors, Chicago
- Mar 27–Apr 24
- Last frost, Chicago
- Apr 10
Sow outdoors from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost. Cut outer leaves and the plant keeps going until hard frost.
Swiss chard planting dates by city
Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
ChicagoMar 27–Apr 24
AuroraApr 5–May 3
NapervilleApr 14–May 12
JolietApr 5–May 3
RockfordApr 10–May 8
ElginApr 12–May 10
SpringfieldApr 1–Apr 29
PeoriaApr 2–Apr 30
ChampaignApr 1–Apr 29
WaukeganApr 16–May 14
CiceroMar 28–Apr 25
BloomingtonApr 11–May 9
SchaumburgApr 16–May 14
EvanstonApr 12–May 10
Arlington HeightsApr 5–May 3
BolingbrookApr 6–May 4
DecaturMar 31–Apr 28
SkokieApr 12–May 10
PalatineApr 11–May 9
Des PlainesApr 2–Apr 30
Orland ParkApr 5–May 3
Oak LawnMar 27–Apr 24
Mount ProspectApr 5–May 3
Tinley ParkApr 9–May 7
BerwynMar 28–Apr 25
WheatonApr 14–May 12
NormalApr 11–May 9
Oak ParkMar 28–Apr 25
Hoffman EstatesApr 16–May 14
Downers GroveApr 14–May 12
All 121 cities
| City | Sow outdoors | Last frost |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Mar 27 to Apr 24 | Apr 10 |
| Aurora | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Naperville | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Joliet | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Rockford | Apr 10 to May 8 | Apr 24 |
| Elgin | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Springfield | Apr 1 to Apr 29 | Apr 15 |
| Peoria | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Champaign | Apr 1 to Apr 29 | Apr 15 |
| Waukegan | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Cicero | Mar 28 to Apr 25 | Apr 11 |
| Bloomington | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Schaumburg | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Evanston | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Arlington Heights | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Bolingbrook | Apr 6 to May 4 | Apr 20 |
| Decatur | Mar 31 to Apr 28 | Apr 14 |
| Skokie | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Palatine | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Des Plaines | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Orland Park | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Oak Lawn | Mar 27 to Apr 24 | Apr 10 |
| Mount Prospect | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Tinley Park | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| Berwyn | Mar 28 to Apr 25 | Apr 11 |
| Wheaton | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Normal | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Oak Park | Mar 28 to Apr 25 | Apr 11 |
| Hoffman Estates | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Downers Grove | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Plainfield | Apr 6 to May 4 | Apr 20 |
| Glenview | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Elmhurst | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Lombard | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Buffalo Grove | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Moline | Apr 10 to May 8 | Apr 24 |
| Crystal Lake | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Romeoville | Apr 6 to May 4 | Apr 20 |
| Bartlett | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| DeKalb | Apr 10 to May 8 | Apr 24 |
| Belleville | Mar 29 to Apr 26 | Apr 12 |
| Oswego | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Urbana | Apr 1 to Apr 29 | Apr 15 |
| Carol Stream | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Quincy | Mar 25 to Apr 22 | Apr 8 |
| Park Ridge | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Wheeling | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Streamwood | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Carpentersville | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Hanover Park | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Rock Island | Apr 10 to May 8 | Apr 24 |
| Addison | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Calumet City | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| Northbrook | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| North Chicago | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Woodridge | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| St. Charles | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Mundelein | Apr 15 to May 13 | Apr 29 |
| O'Fallon | Mar 29 to Apr 26 | Apr 12 |
| Glendale Heights | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Elk Grove Village | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Pekin | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Algonquin | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Highland Park | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Gurnee | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Niles | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| McHenry | Apr 17 to May 15 | May 1 |
| Huntley | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| New Lenox | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Glen Ellyn | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Lake in the Hills | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Galesburg | Apr 6 to May 4 | Apr 20 |
| Burbank | Mar 27 to Apr 24 | Apr 10 |
| Danville | Apr 7 to May 5 | Apr 21 |
| Lansing | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| Lockport | Apr 6 to May 4 | Apr 20 |
| Wilmette | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Round Lake Beach | Apr 10 to May 8 | Apr 24 |
| Vernon Hills | Apr 15 to May 13 | Apr 29 |
| Granite City | Mar 21 to Apr 18 | Apr 4 |
| Oak Forest | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| Yorkville | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Batavia | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Chicago Heights | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| Edwardsville | Mar 21 to Apr 18 | Apr 4 |
| Woodstock | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| South Elgin | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Belvidere | Apr 10 to May 8 | Apr 24 |
| West Chicago | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Alton | Mar 21 to Apr 18 | Apr 4 |
| Homer Glen | Apr 6 to May 4 | Apr 20 |
| Morton Grove | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Zion | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Westmont | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Melrose Park | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Collinsville | Mar 25 to Apr 22 | Apr 8 |
| Loves Park | Apr 10 to May 8 | Apr 24 |
| Rolling Meadows | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Elmwood Park | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Lisle | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Kankakee | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Maywood | Mar 28 to Apr 25 | Apr 11 |
| Freeport | Apr 12 to May 10 | Apr 26 |
| Machesney Park | Apr 17 to May 15 | May 1 |
| Roselle | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| Bloomingdale | Apr 16 to May 14 | Apr 30 |
| East Peoria | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
| Darien | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Montgomery | Apr 5 to May 3 | Apr 19 |
| Villa Park | Apr 14 to May 12 | Apr 28 |
| Carbondale | Mar 26 to Apr 23 | Apr 9 |
| Blue Island | Mar 27 to Apr 24 | Apr 10 |
| Frankfort | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| Grayslake | Apr 15 to May 13 | Apr 29 |
| Geneva | Apr 11 to May 9 | Apr 25 |
| Park Forest | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| South Holland | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| Libertyville | Apr 15 to May 13 | Apr 29 |
| Crest Hill | Apr 6 to May 4 | Apr 20 |
| Dolton | Apr 9 to May 7 | Apr 23 |
| East Moline | Apr 2 to Apr 30 | Apr 16 |
Questions
When should I plant swiss chard in Illinois?
In Chicago, sow outdoors from March 27 to April 24. Across Illinois the window opens between March 21 and April 17, depending on the local last frost.
How is this date worked out?
Sow outdoors from 2 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.
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Swiss chard 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
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- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming