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

Planting zone for Urbana, IL

Urbana, IL is in USDA zone 6a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 24.

Urbana 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 15
First frostOct 24
Growing season190 days

6a 3 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 Urbana, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season190 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 2.

From the NOAA station Champaign 3s, IL, elevation 722 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 Urbana

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 61801 came on Mar 10 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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 6a in Illinois

610 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 78

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 108

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 220

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 178

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 9

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °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 °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 Urbana, IL.

Soil in Urbana, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 61801 is Flanagan — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Flanagan silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes.

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 61801; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Urbana, IL

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days23days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights120nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,568base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 02 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 32 °F 51°32° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 24 °F 39°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.44 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 MarApril: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 2.44 in precipitation 2.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Champaign 3s, IL (2 mi away); precipitation: Urbana 0.1 Sse, IL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Urbana

618016a
−10 to −5 °F
618026a
−10 to −5 °F
618036a
−10 to −5 °F

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about Urbana

What planting zone is Urbana, IL?

Urbana, IL is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Urbana, IL?

The median last spring frost is April 15 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Champaign 3s station).

When can I plant a garden in Urbana, IL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 4 – Mar 25; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 22, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Urbana, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Urbana, IL get?

About 40.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).