Frost dates for ZIP 60433 (Joliet, 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, Joliet Brandon Rd Dam, IL (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)188 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
54°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Shabbona 5 NNE (48 mi).
4-inch depth
55°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Shabbona 5 NNE (48 mi).
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 60433 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 55°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 25: 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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 19 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 7 |
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 12 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 1 | Oct 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 19 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 5 | Nov 4 |
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 60433
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 25). 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 | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 22–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–26 (transplant) Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 22–Mar 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Jul 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 22–29 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 22–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 22–29 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 25–Feb 8 | Apr 26–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 8–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (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: Joliet Brandon Rd Dam, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00114530), elevation 543 ft, 3.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romeoville WFO, IL | 8 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 22 |
| Channahon Dresden Isl Dam, IL | 14 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 26 |
| Little Red School Hse, IL | 17 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 60433
When is the last frost in 60433?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 60433 is April 19. For a more cautious planting date, use May 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 60433?
The average first fall freeze is October 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 12.
What hardiness zone is 60433?
ZIP 60433 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 60433 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
60432 Joliet 60436 Joliet 60451 New Lenox 60435 Joliet 60421 Elwood 60403 Crest Hill 60441 Lockport 60431 Joliet
Other ZIP codes in Will County
60401 60403 60404 60408 60410 60417 60421 60423 60431 60432 60435 60436 60440 60441 60442 60446 60448 60449 60451 60468 60481 60484 60490 60491 All Will County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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