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

Planting zone for 61024 — Durand, IL

ZIP code 61024 (Durand, Winnebago County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 61024 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 29
First frostOct 12
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Durand, 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 Durand, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season165 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Brodhead Wwtp, WI — 13 miles away, elevation 781 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 61024

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 61024 came on Mar 28 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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 5b in Illinois

584 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

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 102

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 210

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 173

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 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Durand, IL.

Soil in Durand, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 61024 is Atterberry — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Atterberry 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 61024; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Durand, IL

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights151nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,750base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.9 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 27 °F, low 11 °F 27°11° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 17 °F 33°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 JanFebruary: 1.61 in precipitation 1.6 FebMarch: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 MarApril: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 AprMay: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 5.64 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.94 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.29 in precipitation 2.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Brodhead Wwtp, WI (13 mi away); precipitation: Shirland, IL (5 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.

610795b
Shirland, IL · 4 mi
610195a
Davis, IL · 6 mi
610725b
Rockton, IL · 8 mi
610635b
Pecatonica, IL · 8 mi
610705a
Rock City, IL · 9 mi
611015b
Rockford, IL · 10 mi
611065b
Rockford, IL · 10 mi
611105b
Rockford, IL · 10 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 61024

What planting zone is ZIP code 61024?

ZIP code 61024 (Durand, 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 Durand, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 61024 is April 29; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brodhead Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Durand, IL?

The median first fall frost near 61024 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 165 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 61024?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 61024 get?

About 38.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shirland station).

How hot do summers get in Durand, IL?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 61024 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Atterberry at the center of ZIP 61024: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Durand, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 61024 came on Mar 28 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Durand, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 61024 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 61024 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 61024 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.