Local planting guide · Midwest
zip 60670
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 gardening operates within a 201-day growing season bounded by April 11 last spring frost and October 31 first fall frost. The winter low of -5 to 0°F (zone 6b) rules out many tender perennials but creates reliable cold for dormancy-dependent fruit trees. The city's location and proximity to Lake Michigan introduce variability: spring can arrive early or stall in late March, and fall frost timing can swing by two to three weeks depending on wind patterns. This instability makes April and October the riskiest months for outdoor work.
Despite the constraints, Chicago excels with cold-hardy pomological crops. Apples, pears, cherries, plums, and persimmons all thrive in 6b, supported by a century of regional trial data from university extension programs and home growers. The moderate growing season favors careful crop selection and succession timing rather than high-volume production. Gardeners who work with the zone (rather than against it) find Chicago's longer fall to be an asset; the 4-month window from frost to killing freeze permits a second harvest wave in many crops.
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 freeze damage is the defining risk for Chicago. Bud break often begins in late March, leaving new growth vulnerable to the April 11 frost date. Stone fruits and pear buds are particularly susceptible; warm March weather followed by a return to freezing is routine enough to plan around. Summer humidity and variable rainfall create persistent fungal disease pressure, especially for apple mildew, fire blight (particularly in warmer years), and cherry leaf spot. Insect pressure from Japanese beetles and codling moths is high but manageable with dormant oil and targeted tactics. Winter wind desiccation, especially on evergreen and broad-leaved plants, exceeds the actual cold as a limiting factor; many plants fail not from freezing but from drying winds across frozen, replenishment-starved soil.
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 varieties rated for at least zone 6a to create a buffer against years when winter dips below the 6b minimum. Choose spur-type apple varieties and disease-resistant pears to reduce the chemical load and align with low-spray management; older heirloom varieties often lack the built-in mildew and fire blight resistance that modern cultivars offer. Delay planting frost-sensitive perennials until after May 1 to avoid late freeze loss; April's warmth can be deceiving. For annual crops, wait until soil temperature is 50°F+ before direct seeding; cool soil often results in seed rot rather than germination. Mulch shallow-rooted fruit trees (especially newly planted stock) with 4 to 6 inches of aged compost or wood chips in late autumn to insulate roots and reduce winter drying.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruit trees grow best in Chicago?
Apples, pears, cherries, and plums are well-suited to zone 6b and have centuries of regional growing data. Select cultivars rated for zone 6a or colder to ensure survival in the -5 to 0°F winter extremes. Japanese plums are riskier than European plums due to earlier bloom dates; if you choose Japanese plums, site them on a north-facing slope to delay bud break past the April 11 frost risk.
- When should I start vegetable seeds indoors?
With a last spring frost of April 11, start heat-loving crops (tomatoes, peppers) indoors 6 to 8 weeks prior, around mid-February. For faster-growing crops like brassicas and lettuce, start 4 to 5 weeks before, in late February or early March. Harden off seedlings by mid-April and transplant outdoors after April 20 to avoid late-frost exposure.
- How do I protect against late spring freezes?
Delay transplanting tender perennials and annuals until after May 1. For established plants, keep frost cloth or burlap on hand in April; a sudden warm snap followed by freeze is common. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizing in early spring, as soft new growth is more frost-sensitive than slower-growing tissue.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Chicago gardening?
Late spring frost between April 11 and May 1 is the most consistent threat. Unseasonably warm March weather triggers bud break, then a return to freezing kills flowers and emerging fruit. The second risk is winter desiccation from wind and low humidity when soil is frozen; preventative mulching and strategic windbreaks reduce this loss more effectively than trying to recover after damage.
- How do I manage fungal disease pressure in summer?
Chicago's humidity creates ideal conditions for apple mildew, fire blight, and cherry leaf spot. Select mildew-resistant apple varieties and disease-tolerant pears. Improve air flow through selective pruning, avoid overhead watering (drip irrigation or soaker hoses are preferable), and remove infected branches promptly in spring and summer.
- Can I grow peaches reliably in Chicago?
Peaches are marginal in zone 6b due to winter hardiness and late-frost vulnerability. Choose hardy cultivars like Reliance or Contender, which tolerate colder winters and have later bloom times. Site them on a north-facing slope to delay bud break; avoid warm microclimates near south-facing walls, which encourage early flowering.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00014819. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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