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