Local planting guide · Midwest
zip 60611
Chicago is in USDA hardiness zone 6b, with average winter lows of -5°F to 0°F. The local growing season runs roughly 04/11 through 10/31 (~201 days). This zip falls within the Midwest growing region.
- USDA zone
- 6b -5°F to 0°F
- Last spring frost
- 04/11
- First fall frost
- 10/31
- Growing season
- 201 days
- Compatible crops
- 87
- Growing region
- Midwest
Right now in Chicago
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Chicago
Chicago gardeners work with a 201-day growing season bookended by hard frost dates: April 11 in spring and October 31 in fall. Zone 6b means winter temperatures typically bottom out between minus 5 and 0 degrees Fahrenheit, cold enough to reliably chill fruit trees for dormancy but short enough on the warm end that heat-seeking crops like figs struggle.
The dominant constraint is late spring frost. Trees like peach bloom in early April, before the last frost date arrives. A warm March can push bloom forward, raising the risk of frost damage in mid-April when freezes are still common. Many Chicago gardeners have lost peach and sweet cherry crops to this timing mismatch.
Reliable winners in this zone include apple, pear, sour cherry, and European plum. American persimmon has recently proven itself in the Chicago region and is worth considering. Japanese plums are more frost-tender and require protective site selection. Spring arrives late and fall arrives early, leaving little margin for error in late-season crops. This drives crop choice more than cold alone.
Regional context · Midwest
What the Midwest brings to Chicago
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 6b, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ Cedar-apple rust
- ▸ Fire blight
- ▸ Stink bugs
What defeats new gardeners in Chicago
Late-spring frosts hit hardest here. Peach trees bloom in early April, then freezes in late April often destroy the entire crop before fruit sets. Sweet cherries face the same timing trap. Even frost-hardy trees like apple are set back by rapid temperature swings in April and May that damage newly unfurled leaves.
Deer pressure is severe throughout the Chicago region. Suburban expansion has pushed deer populations into residential yards year-round. Newly planted trees and dormant branches are heavily browsed without physical protection. Vole damage under snow cover is also common. Winter voles girdle apple and pear trunks, killing young trees. This is especially problematic in heavy snow years, which the Chicago area experiences regularly.
Crops that grow in Chicago
87 crops from our catalog match zone 6b, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 6b Apple
Malus domestica
zones 3a–9a
zone 6b Pear
Pyrus communis
zones 4a–8b
zone 6b Peach
Prunus persica
zones 5a–9a
zone 6b European Plum
Prunus domestica
zones 4a–8a
zone 6b Japanese Plum
Prunus salicina
zones 5b–9a
zone 6b Sweet Cherry
Prunus avium
zones 5a–8a
zone 6b Sour Cherry
Prunus cerasus
zones 4a–7b
zone 6b American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
zones 4b–9a
Berries
20 crops
zone 6b Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
zones 4a–7b
zone 6b Lowbush Blueberry
Vaccinium angustifolium
zones 3a–6b
zone 6b Red Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
zones 3b–8a
zone 6b Black Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
zones 4a–8a
zone 6b Yellow Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
zones 3b–8a
zone 6b Blackberry
Rubus subgenus Rubus
zones 5a–9a
zone 6b June-Bearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
zones 3a–8b
zone 6b Everbearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
zones 3b–9a
Nuts
6 crops
Vegetables
40 crops
zone 6b Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 6b Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 6b Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 6b Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 6b Potato
Solanum tuberosum
zones 3a–9a
zone 6b Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
zones 3a–9b
zone 6b Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
zones 3a–9a
zone 6b Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
zones 3b–9a
Herbs
9 crops
zone 6b Basil
Ocimum basilicum
zones 4a–10b
zone 6b Parsley
Petroselinum crispum
zones 3b–9b
zone 6b Cilantro / Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
zones 3b–9b
zone 6b Dill
Anethum graveolens
zones 3b–9a
zone 6b Oregano
Origanum vulgare
zones 4a–9b
zone 6b Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
zones 4a–9a
zone 6b Sage
Salvia officinalis
zones 4a–9a
zone 6b Mint
Mentha species
zones 3b–9b
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Chicago
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Chicago's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Chicago, IL (zone 6b)
Quiet week in Chicago, IL (zone 6b). 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 6b
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 6b
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 6b.
- 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 Chicago
Select late-blooming varieties to sidestep frost. European plums and tart cherries bloom several weeks later than peaches and sweet cherries, reducing frost risk significantly. American persimmon blooms even later (May) and rarely loses a crop to spring frost in this zone.
Site placement matters. Plant on south-facing slopes or elevated ground where cold air drains away at night. Low-lying areas and north-facing sites are frost traps; avoid planting there. Late frost often settles in the lowest ground by dawn.
Protect against winter damage before it happens. Wrap young tree trunks with spiral vole guards before November. Deer populations are high throughout the Chicago region; a 6-foot fence around a planting area is far more effective than individual tree guards and is worth the upfront cost if protecting more than three or four trees.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruits grow best in Chicago?
Apples, pears, sour cherries, and European plums are reliable. Peaches succeed but require careful variety selection and site placement to avoid frost damage to early-spring blooms. American persimmon has proven itself recently in the Chicago area and is worth considering.
- When do late spring frosts typically hit Chicago?
The average last spring frost in Chicago is April 11. However, frost damage to blooming trees often occurs later, in mid-to-late April after warm spells trigger early bloom. This late frost is the primary crop hazard for peaches and sweet cherries.
- What's the biggest threat to fruit trees in Chicago?
Late spring frost after early bloom is the primary crop-killer. Peaches and sweet cherries are hit hardest because they bloom in early April, before the last frost date. Vole girdling under snow cover is the second major threat, especially for young apple and pear trees.
- How long is the growing season in Chicago?
The frost-free period runs from approximately April 11 to October 31, giving a 201-day growing season. This is adequate for most fruit trees but leaves little room for late-season crops.
- Should I grow Japanese or European plums in Chicago?
European plums are more reliable. They bloom later than Japanese plums, reducing frost damage risk. Japanese plums can work but need a protected site (elevated ground, south-facing) to escape late frosts.
- Can I grow persimmons in Chicago?
American persimmon has proven reliable in the Chicago region, even during harsh winters. It blooms very late (May), avoiding spring frost entirely. This makes it a smart choice for the zone 6b climate here.
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00014819. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
Related