When is the last frost in Peoria, IL?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Peoria is April 16, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until May 4.

When is the first frost in Peoria?

The average first fall frost in Peoria is October 23, with a growing season of about 189 days.

Home › States › Peoria

Peoria, Illinois frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 16. Average first fall frost: October 23. That gives a growing season of about 189 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is May 4, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Apr 16

1-in-10 risk after May 4

First frost (50%)

Oct 23

1-in-10 risk before Oct 9

Growing season

189 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Apr 5

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	April 2	November 3
70%	April 10	October 28
50%	April 16	October 23
30%	April 23	October 18
10%	May 4	October 9

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 4. These are NOAA probabilities for the Peoria Gtr Peoria Airport weather station (USW00014842, elevation 198 m), 1991–2020.

Peoria vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 16). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 4) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Mar 26	Apr 23 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Feb 5	Mar 19
Brussels sprouts	Feb 5	Mar 19
Cabbage	Jan 29	Mar 12
Cauliflower	Feb 19	Apr 2
Sweet corn	Mar 19	Apr 16 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Apr 2	Apr 23
Kale	Jan 29	Mar 12
Leeks	Jan 1	Mar 12
Lettuce	Feb 26	Apr 2
Melons	Apr 9	Apr 30
Onions	Dec 25	Mar 5 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Feb 19	Mar 19 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Mar 5	Apr 30
Squash	Apr 9	Apr 30
Tomatoes	Feb 19	Apr 16

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 23. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 9. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around November 2.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Springfield, IL	Apr 14	Oct 20	~91 km
Chicago, IL	Apr 16	Oct 28	~208 km
Cedar Rapids, IA	Apr 27	Oct 11	~218 km
St. Louis, MO	Apr 2	Nov 4	~220 km
Madison, WI	May 1	Oct 10	~276 km
Milwaukee, WI	Apr 19	Oct 29	~295 km

More: all Illinois frost dates