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

Planting zone for 60156 — Lake In The Hills, IL

ZIP code 60156 (Lake In The Hills, McHenry County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 60156 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostApr 25
First frostOct 22
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lake In The Hills, IL…

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 Lake In The Hills, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Crystal Lake 4nw, IL — 6 miles away, elevation 942 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 60156

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 60156 came on Mar 25 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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).

Soil in Lake In The Hills, IL

The center of ZIP 60156 is mapped as Pits, gravel: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 60156; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lake In The Hills, IL

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights136nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,948base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation39.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 58 °F 80°58° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 31 °F 48°31° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.86 in precipitation 1.9 JanFebruary: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 2.25 in precipitation 2.3 MarApril: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 OctNovember: 2.43 in precipitation 2.4 NovDecember: 2.32 in precipitation 2.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Crystal Lake 4nw, IL (6 mi away); precipitation: Algonquin 0.7 N, IL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

600145b
Crystal Lake, IL · 2 mi
601025b
Algonquin, IL · 3 mi
600135b
Cary, IL · 5 mi
600125b
Crystal Lake, IL · 5 mi
600215b
Fox River Grove, IL · 5 mi
601105b
Carpentersville, IL · 6 mi
601185b
Dundee, IL · 6 mi
601425b
Huntley, IL · 7 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 60156

What planting zone is ZIP code 60156?

ZIP code 60156 (Lake In The Hills, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Lake In The Hills, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 60156 is April 25; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crystal Lake 4nw station.

When is the first frost in Lake In The Hills, IL?

The median first fall frost near 60156 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 60156?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 60156 get?

About 39.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Algonquin 0.7 N station).

How hot do summers get in Lake In The Hills, IL?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Lake In The Hills, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 60156 came on Mar 25 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lake In The Hills, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 60156 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).