Local planting guide · Midwest
zip 60006
Arlington Heights is in USDA hardiness zone 6a, with average winter lows of -10°F to -5°F. The local growing season runs roughly 04/19 through 10/26 (~190 days). This zip falls within the Midwest growing region.
- USDA zone
- 6a -10°F to -5°F
- Last spring frost
- 04/19
- First fall frost
- 10/26
- Growing season
- 190 days
- Compatible crops
- 87
- Growing region
- Midwest
Right now in Arlington Heights
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights sits in zone 6a's coldest tier, where winter lows average 10 degrees below zero. The 190-day growing season offers solid scope for cold-hardy fruits and vegetables, framed by a last spring frost on April 19 and first fall frost on October 26. Stone fruits and pome fruits dominate the productive mix: apples, pears, peaches, plums, and cherries all meet zone 6a's winter chill requirements. The dominant constraint is timing, not temperature. The late April frost date eliminates earliest-blooming varieties and regularly catches unprepared fruit trees; the mid-October frost cutoff narrows the window for long-season crops. Summer humidity across the Chicago region generates fungal disease pressure, particularly apple scab and fireblight, requiring attention to varietal resistance and dormant-season spray timing. Arlington Heights' suburban setting typically offers reliable water supply and moderated microclimates within garden plots, advantages that offset the short season and humidity challenges.
Regional context · Midwest
What the Midwest brings to Arlington Heights
Continental humid. Cold winters, hot humid summers. Heart of the country's vegetable, sweet corn, and cool-climate fruit production. Michigan and Wisconsin are major fruit states.
Common challenges
Issues that most often defeat home gardeners in zone 6a, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ Brown rot in stone fruit
- ▸ Japanese beetles
- ▸ Spring frost damage to peach buds
What defeats new gardeners in Arlington Heights
Late spring frost damage is the dominant threat. Many peach and sweet cherry varieties bloom in early April, weeks ahead of the April 19 frost date, resulting in lost crops in roughly 3 out of 10 years. Even cold-hardy wood can produce frost-killed flower buds. Fungal disease pressure peaks during humid springs and early summers. Apple scab, fire blight on pears and cherries, and leaf spot diseases are endemic across zone 6a. Varietal resistance is non-negotiable for long-term success. A third challenge common to suburban zone 6a is vole and deer pressure. Young fruit trees face winter vole girdling under heavy snow, and deer browse terminal shoots in spring when alternative forage is scarce.
Crops that grow in Arlington Heights
87 crops from our catalog match zone 6a, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 6a Apple
Malus domestica
zones 3a–9a
zone 6a Pear
Pyrus communis
zones 4a–8b
zone 6a Peach
Prunus persica
zones 5a–9a
zone 6a European Plum
Prunus domestica
zones 4a–8a
zone 6a Japanese Plum
Prunus salicina
zones 5b–9a
zone 6a Sweet Cherry
Prunus avium
zones 5a–8a
zone 6a Sour Cherry
Prunus cerasus
zones 4a–7b
zone 6a American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
zones 4b–9a
Berries
20 crops
zone 6a Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
zones 4a–7b
zone 6a Lowbush Blueberry
Vaccinium angustifolium
zones 3a–6b
zone 6a Red Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
zones 3b–8a
zone 6a Black Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
zones 4a–8a
zone 6a Yellow Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
zones 3b–8a
zone 6a Blackberry
Rubus subgenus Rubus
zones 5a–9a
zone 6a June-Bearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
zones 3a–8b
zone 6a Everbearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
zones 3b–9a
Nuts
6 crops
Vegetables
40 crops
zone 6a Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 6a Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 6a Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 6a Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 6a Potato
Solanum tuberosum
zones 3a–9a
zone 6a Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
zones 3a–9b
zone 6a Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
zones 3a–9a
zone 6a Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
zones 3b–9a
Herbs
9 crops
zone 6a Basil
Ocimum basilicum
zones 4a–10b
zone 6a Parsley
Petroselinum crispum
zones 3b–9b
zone 6a Cilantro / Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
zones 3b–9b
zone 6a Dill
Anethum graveolens
zones 3b–9a
zone 6a Oregano
Origanum vulgare
zones 4a–9b
zone 6a Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
zones 4a–9a
zone 6a Sage
Salvia officinalis
zones 4a–9a
zone 6a Mint
Mentha species
zones 3b–9b
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Arlington Heights
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Arlington Heights's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Arlington Heights, IL (zone 6a)
Quiet week in Arlington Heights, IL (zone 6a). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
434 bars · 87 crops
Calendar logic combines NOAA frost normals with crop-specific timing data. Local microclimate and weather always overrules the calendar; use this as a starting point.
Top pests for zone 6a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
Multiple species (Aphididae)
Small soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that reproduce explosively in spring. Excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold and attracts ants. Transmit viral diseases.
Odocoileus species
Whitetail and mule deer browse can devastate orchards and gardens, particularly in winter when food is scarce. Antler rub on young trunks kills saplings outright.
Multiple species
Robins, catbirds, mockingbirds, starlings, cedar waxwings and other songbirds can strip ripening berry and fruit crops in days. Crows and blackbirds also damage fresh sweet corn ears in milk stage. The single biggest yield-loss factor in unprotected home plantings.
Sylvilagus and Lepus species
Cottontails and jackrabbits strip bark from young fruit trees in winter and graze tender garden vegetables year-round, especially seedlings.
Popillia japonica
Defoliating beetle introduced to North America in 1916. Skeletonizes leaves of many fruit trees, berry canes, and pecan.
Multiple species (Chrysomelidae)
Tiny black or bronze jumping beetles that put hundreds of small holes in seedling leaves. Most damaging on direct-seeded brassicas and young eggplant.
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny mite that feeds on leaf undersides, causing stippling and webbing during hot dry weather.
Microtus species
Field voles and meadow voles girdle young fruit-tree trunks under snow cover during winter and chew root crops. The leading cause of mysterious orchard losses.
Top diseases for zone 6a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
Botrytis cinerea
Ubiquitous fungal disease that causes fruit rot during cool wet weather, often the dominant berry disease in humid regions.
Pseudoperonospora cubensis (cucurbits) and others
Water mold (oomycete, not a true fungus) that thrives in cool damp conditions. Spreads rapidly through cucurbit and brassica plantings on wind-borne spores.
Pythium and Rhizoctonia species
Soil-borne complex of water molds and fungi that kill seedlings before or shortly after emergence. The single most common cause of seed-starting failures.
Cucumber mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, and others
Family of plant viruses producing mottled yellow-and-green leaf patterns. Vectored primarily by aphids; some are seed-transmitted or spread by handling tools and tobacco products.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Soil-borne bacterium that enters plants through wounds and induces tumor-like galls on roots, crown, and lower stems. Galls reduce vigor and shorten plant lifespan; on Rubus the disease is often fatal.
Fusarium oxysporum
Soil-borne fungal disease that plugs vascular tissue and kills affected plants. Persists in soil for many years; impossible to eliminate once established.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Soil-borne fungal disease most damaging in warm humid Southern conditions. White mycelial fans and small mustard-seed-sized sclerotia at the soil line are diagnostic.
Plasmodiophora brassicae
Soil-borne disease causing characteristic distorted club-shaped roots on brassicas. Persists in soil for 10-20 years; the dominant brassica pathogen in acidic poorly-drained soils.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 6a.
- Peach + Garlic
Garlic planted around peach trees suppresses peach borer and provides general fungal-pressure reduction.
- European Plum + Garlic
Garlic discourages plum curculio and provides general antifungal benefit beneath stone fruit.
- American Persimmon + Pawpaw
Both natives thrive in similar soils and contribute to a polyculture that supports native pollinators and fauna.
- Jujube + Thyme
Thyme groundcover suits jujube's low-water profile and deters cabbage moth and aphid populations.
- Apricot + Basil
Basil's volatile oils discourage stone-fruit pests and support pollinator visits.
- Highbush Blueberry + Thyme
Creeping thyme thrives in the acidic mulched conditions blueberries require and attracts pollinators during bloom.
Soil types reference
Soil texture and pH decide what grows easily on your specific lot. Find the closest match below for crop recommendations and amendment guidance.
Practical tips for Arlington Heights
Select late-blooming apple and pear varieties to sidestep the April 19 frost. Honeycrisp and Gala bloom mid-April and frequently lose crops to frost, while Granny Smith and Braeburn bloom later and set fruit more consistently. For peaches, choose zone 6a-hardy cultivars like Contender or Reliance that tolerate hard freezes, then plan frost cloth protection for early buds if frost threatens within a week of bloom. For vegetables, work backward from October 26. Tomatoes started indoors in late March transplant by mid-May and mature by late September; direct-sown crops like beans or squash started by early June complete before frost. Target 120-day tomato seasons rather than 150-day heirlooms to ensure maturity.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruits perform most reliably in Arlington Heights?
Apples, pears, sour cherries, and European plums are zone 6a stalwarts in this area. Peaches and sweet cherries produce in many years but remain vulnerable to the late April bloom-frost window. Japanese plums are less hardy and less consistent. American persimmons thrive with the winter cold they require in zone 6a.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Arlington Heights?
Start seed indoors in late March, transplant after the April 19 last frost date (mid-May once soil warms to 60°F). Select determinate or short-season varieties maturing in 120 days or fewer to ensure harvest before the October 26 first frost. Heirloom varieties requiring 150+ days risk frost damage to late fruit.
- Will peach trees survive the winter in zone 6a?
Winter lows of -10 to -5°F kill wood on many standard peach cultivars. Zone 6a-hardy selections such as Contender, Reliance, or Moongold survive the cold. The primary risk, however, is spring frost killing flower buds in April, which eliminates crops roughly 3 years in 10 even though the tree itself survives.
- What's the biggest weather risk for Arlington Heights gardeners?
Late spring frost in April and May is the dominant threat to spring-blooming fruits. The April 19 average frost date arrives after most fruit trees flower, destroying the season's crop despite the tree's survival. Frost cloth during forecasted freezes in April and early May can save peach and cherry crops.
- How much spring frost protection should I plan for?
The April 19 average is not a hard cutoff; freezes occur into early May in many years. When buds break on fruit trees and frost is forecast within a week, frost cloth or sprinkler protection is worthwhile. Tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil require protection until soil temperature reaches 60°F, typically mid-May.
- What long-season crops fit the 190-day window?
Most standard vegetables succeed if planted by early June. Corn, winter squash, and watermelon have tighter margins and should start from transplant or seed by late May to mature before October 26. Cool-season crops like kale, spinach, and broccoli perform better in spring and fall windows when conditions suit them.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00004838. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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