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

Planting zone for 60697 — Chicago, IL

ZIP code 60697 (Chicago, Cook County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 60697 is

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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 11
First frostOct 31
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Chicago, 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 Chicago, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season201 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Chicago Midway Airport, IL — 4 miles away, elevation 614 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 60697

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 60697 came on Mar 21 — 13 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 6b in Illinois

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 80

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 222

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 182

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 °F

Vines 11

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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Chicago, IL.

Soil in Chicago, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 60697 is Orthents — silty clay, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land.

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 60697; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chicago, IL

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights106nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,526base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.4 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 33 °F, low 19 °F 33°19° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 32 °F 48°32° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 52 °F 71°52° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 68 °F 85°68° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 66 °F 83°66° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 59 °F 76°59° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 47 °F 63°47° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 35 °F 49°35° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 25 °F 38°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 JanFebruary: 1.46 in precipitation 1.5 FebMarch: 1.88 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 NovDecember: 1.79 in precipitation 1.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chicago Midway Airport, IL (4 mi away); precipitation: Chicago Midway Airport, IL (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

604546a
Oak Lawn, IL · <1 mi
604996a
Bedford Park, IL · <1 mi
606646b
Chicago, IL · <1 mi
606686b
Chicago, IL · <1 mi
606696b
Chicago, IL · <1 mi
606706b
Chicago, IL · <1 mi
606736b
Chicago, IL · <1 mi
606746b
Chicago, IL · <1 mi

All 80 ZIP codes in Chicago → · Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 60697

What planting zone is ZIP code 60697?

ZIP code 60697 (Chicago, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Chicago, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 60697 is April 11; after April 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chicago Midway Airport station.

When is the first frost in Chicago, IL?

The median first fall frost near 60697 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 201 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 60697?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 60697 get?

About 34.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chicago Midway Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Chicago, IL?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 60697 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Orthents at the center of ZIP 60697: silty clay, moderately well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Chicago, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 60697 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chicago, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 60697 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 60697 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 60697 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.