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

Planting zone for 60968 — Thawville, IL

ZIP code 60968 (Thawville, Iroquois County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 60968 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 25
First frostOct 20
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 Thawville, 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 Thawville, 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 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Piper City, IL — 7 miles away, elevation 669 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 60968

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 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 60968 came on Mar 12 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 Thawville, IL.

Soil in Thawville, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 60968 is Bryce — silty clay, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Bryce silty clay, 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 60968; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Thawville, IL

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights134nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,486base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall25 inper year; 36 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 38 °F 65°38° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 63 °F 88°63° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.40 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 3.4❄9 JanFebruary: 2.75 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 2.8❄4 FebMarch: 2.97 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 3.0❄3 MarApril: 4.02 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.0❄1 AprMay: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.22 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.2❄1 NovDecember: 3.01 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 3.0❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Piper City, IL (7 mi away); precipitation: Piper City, IL (7 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.

609626a
Roberts, IL · 5 mi
609186a
Buckley, IL · 7 mi
609555b
Onarga, IL · 8 mi
609596a
Piper City, IL · 9 mi
609385b
Gilman, IL · 10 mi
609216a
Chatsworth, IL · 10 mi
609526a
Melvin, IL · 10 mi
609486a
Loda, IL · 11 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 60968

What planting zone is ZIP code 60968?

ZIP code 60968 (Thawville, 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 Thawville, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 60968 is April 25; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Piper City station.

When is the first frost in Thawville, IL?

The median first fall frost near 60968 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 60968?

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 60968 get?

About 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 25 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Piper City station).

How hot do summers get in Thawville, IL?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 28 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 60968 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bryce at the center of ZIP 60968: silty clay, poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Thawville, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 60968 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Thawville, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 60968 is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 60968 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 60968 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.