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

Planting zone for 61053 — Mount Carroll, IL

ZIP code 61053 (Mount Carroll, Carroll County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 61053 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 frostMay 2
First frostOct 7
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 Mount Carroll, 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 Mount Carroll, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Mt Carroll, IL — 2 miles away, elevation 640 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 61053

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 61053 came on Mar 28 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 Mount Carroll, IL.

Soil in Mount Carroll, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 61053 is Fayette — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.4slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.6%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fayette silty clay loam, glaciated, 10 to 18 percent slopes, severely eroded.

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 61053; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mount Carroll, IL

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights155nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,917base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall33 inper year; 57 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 17 °F 36°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.66 in precipitation, 10.2 in snowfall 1.7❄10 JanFebruary: 1.83 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 1.8❄8 FebMarch: 2.51 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 2.5❄4 MarApril: 3.90 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.9❄1 AprMay: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 5.49 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 3.02 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.0 OctNovember: 2.60 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.6❄2 NovDecember: 2.21 in precipitation, 8.8 in snowfall 2.2❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Carroll, IL (2 mi away); precipitation: Mt Carroll, IL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

610745a
Savanna, IL · 7 mi
610465a
Lanark, IL · 9 mi
612855b
Thomson, IL · 10 mi
610145a
Chadwick, IL · 11 mi
610625a
Pearl City, IL · 12 mi
520705a
Sabula, IA · 12 mi
610785a
Shannon, IL · 13 mi
610445a
Kent, IL · 14 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 61053

What planting zone is ZIP code 61053?

ZIP code 61053 (Mount Carroll, 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 Mount Carroll, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 61053 is May 2; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Carroll station.

When is the first frost in Mount Carroll, IL?

The median first fall frost near 61053 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 61053?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 61053 get?

About 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 33 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Carroll station).

How hot do summers get in Mount Carroll, IL?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 61053 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fayette at the center of ZIP 61053: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 6.4 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mount Carroll, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 61053 came on Mar 28 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mount Carroll, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 61053 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).