Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 61486 (Viola, 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, Aledo, IL (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)181 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 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 61486 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 19: 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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 22 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 6 |
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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 19 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 31 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 2 | Oct 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 22 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
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 61486
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 19). 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 25–Mar 11 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 1–22 (transplant) Mar 25–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 22 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 11–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 11–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 11–25 | Apr 8–29 (transplant) Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 18–Apr 29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 13–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 29–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 11–25 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (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: Aledo, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00110072), elevation 730 ft, 8.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouth, IL | 18 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 15 |
| Moline Quad City Intl AP, IL | 19 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 18 |
| Monmouth 4NW, IL | 19 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 14 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 2 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 61486
When is the last frost in 61486?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 61486 is April 22. For a more cautious planting date, use May 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 61486?
The average first fall freeze is October 19. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 6.
What hardiness zone is 61486?
ZIP 61486 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 61486 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
61263 Matherville 61465 Windsor 61231 Aledo 61466 North Henderson 61281 Cable 61412 Alexis 61276 Preemption 61468 Ophiem
Other ZIP codes in Mercer County
61231 61260 61263 61272 61276 61279 61281 61412 61442 61465 61466 61476 All Mercer County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.