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Written by University of Illinois Coop Extension
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When to Plant Garden Vegetables in Illinois
The chart below is taken from the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension's website. For more gardening tips and details specific to gardening in Illinois please visit the original article here.
Planting Chart - Timing
| Vegetable |
Hardiness |
Recommended planting period for central Illinois (b) |
Time to grow from seed to field (c) |
|
|
For overall
Use |
For
storage |
|
|
|
|
|
weeks |
| Asparagus |
Hardy |
Mar.15-Apr. 15 |
. |
|
| Bean, bush, lima |
Very Tender |
May 10-June 15 |
. |
|
| Bean, bush, snap |
Tender |
Apr. 25-July 15 |
. |
|
| Beet |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 10-July 15 |
July 10 |
|
| Broccoli |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 10-May 1
July 1-15 |
. |
4-6 |
| Cabbage |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 10-July 15 |
June 10 |
4-6 |
| Carrot |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 10-July 15 |
May 15 |
|
| Cauliflower |
Half-hardy |
July 10-20 |
. |
4-6 |
| Chard |
Half-hardy |
Apr.10-June 1 |
. |
|
| Corn, sweet |
Tender |
May 1-July 9 |
. |
|
| Cucumber |
Very Tender |
May 10-June 15 |
. |
4 |
| Eggplant |
Very Tender |
May 10-June 15 |
. |
8-10 |
| Endive |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 1- May 1
July 1-Aug. 15 |
July 10 |
|
| Garlic, from cloves |
Hardy |
Mar. 25-Apr. 15 |
Apr. 1-10 |
|
| Kale |
Hardy |
Apr. 1-30
July 1-Aug.1 |
July 10 |
|
| Kohlrabi |
Hardy |
Mar. 25-Apr. 5
Aug. 1-10 |
Aug. 1 |
|
| Lettuce, leaf |
Half-hardy |
Mar. 25-May 15
Aug. 15-Sept. 15 |
. |
|
| Muskmelon |
Very tender |
May 10-June 15 |
. |
4 |
| Mustard |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 1-May 10
Aug.15-Sept. 15 |
. |
|
| New Zealand spinach |
Tender |
Apr. 25-June 15 |
. |
|
| Okra |
Very tender |
May 10-June 15 |
. |
|
| Onion, from seed |
Hardy |
Mar. 25-Apr. 15 |
Apr. 1 |
|
| Onion, from plants or sets |
Hardy |
Mar. 25-May 1 |
Apr. 1 |
|
| Parsley |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 10-May 1 |
. |
|
| Peas |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 10-May 1 |
. |
|
| Pepper |
Very tender |
May 10-June 1 |
May 10 |
8-10 |
| Potato |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 1-15
June 1-10 |
June 1 |
|
| Pumpkin |
Very tender |
May 20-June 10 |
June 10 |
|
| Radish, spring |
Half-hardy |
Apr. 5.-June 1
Aug. 20-30 |
. |
|
| Radish, winter |
Half-hardy |
Aug. 1-15 |
Aug. 10 |
|
| Rhubarb |
Hardy |
Mar. 25-May 15 |
. |
|
| Rutabaga |
Half-hardy |
May 1-July 1 |
June 15 |
|
| Spinach |
Hardy |
Mar. 25-Apr. 15
Aug. 15-30 |
. |
|
| Squash, summer |
Very Tender |
May 10-June 15 |
. |
|
| Squash, winter |
Very Tender |
May 20-June 1 |
June 1 |
|
| Sweet potato |
Very Tender |
May 10-June 1 |
May 15 |
6 |
| Tomato |
Very Tender |
May 10-June 1 |
May 15 |
5-7 |
| Turnips |
Hardy |
Mar. 25-Apr. 15
Aug. 1-15 |
Aug. 1 |
|
| Watermelons |
Very Tender |
May 10-June 1 |
. |
4 |
- This classification is used to determine earliest safe date to plant vegetables. Hardy vegetables can be planted as soon as the ground can be prepared. Half-hardy vegetables can be planted as early as 2 to 3 weeks before the average date of the last 32 freeze in the spring. Tender vegetables should be planted from the time of the last average 32 freeze to one week later. Very tender crops should be planted 2 to 3 weeks after the last average 32 freeze. See Fig. 2 for average dates of last 32 degree freeze in Illinois.
- For southern Illinois March-June plantings can be made approximately 2 weeks earlier and July-September plantings 2 weeks later than for central Illinois. For northern Illinois March-June plantings should be about 2 weeks later and July-September plantings about 2 weeks earlier than for central Illinois.
- Time required to grow plants from seed before setting in field. This period will vary depending on temperature and other conditions under which plants are grown.
- Use plants.
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