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

Planting zone for 60202 — Evanston, IL

ZIP code 60202 (Evanston, Cook County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 60202 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 21
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Evanston, 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 Evanston, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season176 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Chicago Botanic Garden, IL — 9 miles away, elevation 630 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 60202

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 60202 came on Mar 25 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 Evanston, IL.

Soil in Evanston, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 60202 is Psamments — loam, excessively drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Psamments complex, gently sloping.

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 60202; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Evanston, IL

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights128nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,963base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 48 °F 68°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 33 °F 49°33° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 JanFebruary: 1.97 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 2.37 in precipitation 2.4 MarApril: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chicago Botanic Garden, IL (9 mi away); precipitation: Rogers Park 0.6 Ese, IL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

602046a
Evanston, IL · <1 mi
606456a
Chicago, IL · 2 mi
606266a
Chicago, IL · 2 mi
602016a
Evanston, IL · 2 mi
602086a
Evanston, IL · 2 mi
602036a
Evanston, IL · 2 mi
600766a
Skokie, IL · 2 mi
606606a
Chicago, IL · 3 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Evanston → · Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 60202

What planting zone is ZIP code 60202?

ZIP code 60202 (Evanston, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Evanston, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 60202 is April 26; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chicago Botanic Garden station.

When is the first frost in Evanston, IL?

The median first fall frost near 60202 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 176 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 60202?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 60202 get?

About 40 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rogers Park 0.6 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Evanston, IL?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 60202 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Psamments at the center of ZIP 60202: loam, excessively drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Evanston, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 60202 came on Mar 25 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Evanston, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 60202 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 60202 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 60202 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.