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Planting Calendar for Joliet, IL

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 20 (at JOLIET BRANDON RD DAM, IL climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 1-Oct 6
Moon Sep 1-7, Sep 21-Oct 6
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 28-Aug 25
Moon Aug 10-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 11-Sep 1
Moon Aug 23-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 21-28
Moon Jul 24-28
Frost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 30-Jul 14
Moon Jun 30-Jul 10
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 21-28
Moon Jul 24-28
Frost Aug 11-18
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 4-11
Moon Aug 10-11
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 14-21
Frost Jul 28-Aug 4
Moon Jul 28-Aug 4
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 28-Aug 25
Moon Jul 28-Aug 9, Aug 23-25
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 21-Aug 4
Moon Jul 24-Aug 4
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 2-16
Moon Nov 6-16
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 4-18
Moon Aug 4-9
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 18-Sep 8
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 18-Sep 8
Moon Aug 23-Sep 7
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 8-22
Moon Sep 8-20
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 1-22
Moon Sep 1-7, Sep 21-22
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 11-25
Moon Aug 23-25
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 18-Sep 1
Moon Aug 18-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 26 (at JOLIET BRANDON RD DAM, IL climate station, elevation 544 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Sep 22
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 13-26
Apr 26
BasilFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-12
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-12
Sep 8
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 13-26
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
May 10
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
N/AJul 28
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Jun 7
BroccoliFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Aug 18
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
Jul 14
CabbageFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
May 3
CantaloupesFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Jul 14
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Aug 11
CauliflowerFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost Apr 19-May 3
Moon Apr 27-May 3
N/AAug 4
CeleryFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 12
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Frost Apr 26
Aug 11
ChivesFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Aug 25
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
May 17
CollardsFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Aug 11
CucumbersFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Aug 11
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 19-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
Aug 25
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Jul 14
EggplantsFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
N/AAug 11
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
May 10
FennelFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Frost Apr 26-May 10
Moon Apr 27-May 10
Aug 4
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 3-24
Moon May 3-12
Aug 11
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Jul 21
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
May 10
KohlrabiFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
May 10
LeeksFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Frost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
N/AJul 7
LettuceFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
May 10
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-12
Aug 11
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
N/AJul 14
OreganoFrost Feb 14-Mar 15
Moon Feb 27-28, Mar 1-14
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
N/AAug 11
ParsleyFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Frost Mar 29-May 3
Moon Mar 29-Apr 12, Apr 27-May 3
Aug 4
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 5
Jul 14
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 17-31
Moon May 17-25
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
May 10
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Aug 11
PumpkinsFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Jul 7
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 5
Aug 25
RosemaryFrost Jan 31-Feb 14
Moon Jan 31-Feb 12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
N/AAug 25
SageFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
N/AAug 4
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 12
Jul 14
SpinachFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost Mar 29-Apr 5
Moon Mar 29-Apr 5
May 10
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 10-24
Moon May 10-12
Aug 4
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 10-24
Moon May 13-24
Jul 7
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost Apr 12-26
Moon Apr 12
Frost Apr 5-26
Moon Apr 5-12
May 10
ThymeFrost Feb 14-28
Moon Feb 27-28
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
N/AJul 28
TomatillosFrost Mar 15-29
Moon Mar 29
Frost May 10-24
Moon May 10-12
N/AAug 4
TomatoesFrost Feb 28-Mar 15
Moon Feb 28-Mar 14
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
N/AJul 21
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 29-Apr 5
Sep 22
WatermelonsFrost Apr 5-19
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Frost May 3-10
Moon May 3-10
Jul 21
Winter SquashFrost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Jun 30
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 5-12
Moon Apr 5-12
Frost May 3-17
Moon May 3-12
Frost May 10-17
Moon May 10-12
Aug 18
The Old Farmer's Store