Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Galesburg, IL

Galesburg, IL is in USDA zone 5b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 19.

Galesburg on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 20
First frostOct 19
Growing season180 days

5b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Galesburg, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season180 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Galesburg, IL, elevation 761 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Galesburg

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 19) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 61401 came on Mar 15 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5b in Illinois

584 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 102

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 210

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 173

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Galesburg, IL.

Soil in Galesburg, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 61401 is Orthents — silty clay loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.6%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Orthents, silty, undulating.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 61401; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Galesburg, IL

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights129nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,330base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation39 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall26 inper year; 42 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 17 °F 35°17° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.69 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 1.7❄9 JanFebruary: 1.87 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 1.9❄7 FebMarch: 2.39 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 2.4❄2 MarApril: 3.83 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.8 AprMay: 5.27 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.04 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 2.60 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.6❄2 NovDecember: 2.14 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 2.1❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Galesburg, IL (within 1 mile); precipitation: Galesburg, IL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Galesburg

614015b
−15 to −10 °F
614025b
−15 to −10 °F

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about Galesburg

What planting zone is Galesburg, IL?

Galesburg, IL is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Galesburg, IL?

The median last spring frost is April 20 and the median first fall frost is October 19 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Galesburg station).

When can I plant a garden in Galesburg, IL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 9 – Mar 30; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Galesburg, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Galesburg, IL get?

About 39 inches of precipitation a year and 26 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).