Frost dates for ZIP 60096 (Winthrop Harbor, IL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Chicago Waukegan Rgnl AP, IL (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)173 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 60096 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 21: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 14 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 30 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 16 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 12 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 30 | Oct 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 16 | Nov 1 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 60096
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 21). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 5–19 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 19–Mar 5 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 19–Mar 5 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 5–19 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 5–19 | Apr 9–30 (transplant) Apr 2–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 12–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 5–19 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) Jul 15–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 5–19 | Apr 2–30 (transplant) Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) Jul 15–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 5–19 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 5–19 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 16–May 7 (transplant) Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 26–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 29–Aug 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 5–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 5–19 | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 21–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 2–9 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 2–9 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 2–9 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 2–9 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 2–9 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 5–19 | May 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Chicago Waukegan Rgnl AP, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00014880), elevation 727 ft, 4.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | 6 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 26 |
| Waukegan, IL | 10 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
| Kenosha Rgnl AP, WI | 10 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 19 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 60096
When is the last frost in 60096?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 60096 is April 30. For a more cautious planting date, use May 16, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 60096?
The average first fall freeze is October 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 5.
What hardiness zone is 60096?
ZIP 60096 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 60096 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
60099 Zion 60075 53158 Pleasant Prairie 60087 Waukegan 53143 Kenosha 53142 Bristol 60083 Old Mill Creek 60085 Waukegan
Other ZIP codes in Lake County
60002 60015 60020 60030 60031 60035 60040 60041 60042 60044 60045 60046 60047 60048 60060 60061 60064 60069 60073 60075 60083 60084 60085 60087 All Lake County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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