Local planting guide · Midwest
zip 60687
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 sits in zone 6b with winter lows between -5 and 0°F, placing it at the threshold where many stone fruits remain viable with careful variety selection. The growing season spans 201 days from the last spring frost (April 11) to the first fall frost (October 31). This is a moderate window: long enough for most temperate fruits and cold-hardy vegetables, but too short for the longest-season crops like peaches and long-season tomatoes without exceptional conditions. The defining constraint is late spring frost timing. Soil warms slowly near Lake Michigan, and frost risk extends well into April. This late date compresses spring tasks (seed starting, transplanting) into a narrower window than warmer regions allow, and it limits heat-loving crops significantly. Lake-influenced humidity also shifts disease pressure. Fungal diseases like apple scab and powdery mildew thrive in the moist conditions here, so cultivar selection and orchard management matter more than they do in drier continental zone 6b locations. Apples, pears, and hardy cherries thrive with minimal fuss. Peaches remain risky unless sited in a protected, south-facing location with excellent drainage.
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 frost damage is the dominant threat to fruit production. Growth that emerges in late March can be killed by April's cold snaps, setting back fruiting by a year and damaging permanent branch structure on young trees. Fungal diseases, especially apple scab and powdery mildew, exploit the humid environment near Lake Michigan. These infections reduce fruit quality and, over years, weaken trees. Poor air circulation in yards with tall trees or dense plantings accelerates disease spread. Voles pose a winter threat to young fruit trees, girdling the bark at the snow line; damage often goes unnoticed until spring when trees are already dead. Summer heat and occasional drought stress peaches and some plum varieties. Irrigation planning for dry Junes and Julys is essential for consistent ripening and fruit quality.
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 apple and pear varieties to minimize frost damage. Standard cultivars like 'Honeycrisp' break dormancy early and flower in March, often falling victim to April's cold snaps. Instead, choose later-blooming varieties such as 'Enterprise', 'Arkansas Black', or 'Winesap' for apples, and 'Bartlett' or 'Bosc' for pears. For stone fruits, European plums and sour cherries are significantly more reliable than peaches in this climate. If peaches are desired, plant in a south-facing, wind-protected location with excellent drainage. Space trees widely and prune for open canopy architecture to maximize air movement between branches; this is critical for disease prevention in humid lake-influenced conditions. Plan supplemental irrigation for mid and late summer. The 201-day season is sufficient for ripening only if consistent moisture is available.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruit trees grow best in Chicago?
Apples, pears, sour cherries, and European plums are the most reliable. Sweet cherries and Japanese plums work with careful site selection. American persimmons are hardy but fruit erratically. Peaches are marginal and require ideal microclimate and frost-hardy cultivars.
- When is the last frost date in Chicago?
April 11 is the historical average. This late date means transplants and tender perennials must wait until mid-April. Monitor the forecast closely through late April, as frost risk persists beyond the average date.
- What's the biggest weather risk for home orchards here?
Late spring frost that damages newly emerging flowers and tender growth. The April 11 frost date is relatively late, leaving little margin for error if growth breaks dormancy early due to warm spells in March.
- How long is the growing season?
201 days from April 11 to October 31. This is enough for apples, pears, and most stone fruits to mature, but heat-loving crops like peaches and long-season tomatoes are marginal.
- How do I manage apple scab and powdery mildew in Chicago?
Choose resistant cultivars like 'Enterprise' and 'Liberty', and space trees widely for air circulation. Prune low branches to improve airflow. Monitor humidity; overhead watering at dusk increases infection risk. Remove fallen leaves in fall to reduce scab spores.
- Should I protect young trees from winter damage?
Winter itself (-5 to 0°F) rarely kills established trees, but vole damage at the snow line is common. Exclude voles by keeping mulch back 4-6 inches from the trunk and using hardware-cloth guards. Young trees may benefit from stakes and ties to prevent wind rock.
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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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