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

Planting zone for 61048 — Lena, IL

ZIP code 61048 (Lena, Stephenson County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 61048 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostApr 27
First frostOct 9
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lena, 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 Lena, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season165 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Stockton 3 Nne, IL — 7 miles away, elevation 971 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 61048

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 61048 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 5a in Illinois

550 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 65

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 95

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 202

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 167

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 Lena, IL.

Soil in Lena, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 61048 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 farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Atterberry silt loam, 2 to 5 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 61048; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lena, IL

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights143nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,807base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 17 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)
Precipitation38.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year; 58 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 28 °F, low 12 °F 28°12° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.17 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 1.2❄11 JanFebruary: 1.52 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 1.5❄8 FebMarch: 2.20 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 2.2❄5 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.9❄1 AprMay: 4.13 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 MayJune: 5.72 in precipitation 5.7 JunJuly: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 SepOctober: 3.10 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.1❄1 OctNovember: 2.32 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 2.3❄2 NovDecember: 1.69 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 1.7❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Stockton 3 Nne, IL (7 mi away); precipitation: Stockton 3 Nne, IL (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

610445a
Kent, IL · 5 mi
610275a
Eleroy, IL · 6 mi
610895a
Winslow, IL · 6 mi
610505a
Mc Connell, IL · 7 mi
610595a
Nora, IL · 7 mi
610625a
Pearl City, IL · 9 mi
610855a
Stockton, IL · 10 mi
610875a
Warren, IL · 10 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 61048

What planting zone is ZIP code 61048?

ZIP code 61048 (Lena, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Lena, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 61048 is April 27; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stockton 3 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Lena, IL?

The median first fall frost near 61048 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 165 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 61048?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 61048 get?

About 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stockton 3 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Lena, IL?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 61048 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Atterberry at the center of ZIP 61048: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Lena, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 61048 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 Lena, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 61048 is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).