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

Planting zone for 61362 — Spring Valley, IL

ZIP code 61362 (Spring Valley, Bureau County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 61362 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 24
First frostOct 18
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Spring Valley, 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 Spring Valley, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season176 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Peru, IL — 6 miles away, elevation 620 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 61362

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 61362 came on Mar 15 — 19 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 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 Spring Valley, IL.

Soil in Spring Valley, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 61362 is Hartsburg — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5.25%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Hartsburg silty clay 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 61362; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Spring Valley, IL

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights139nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,121base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall29 inper year; 44 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 30 °F, low 14 °F 30°14° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 18 °F 35°18° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 30 °F 48°30° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.81 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 1.8❄9 JanFebruary: 1.77 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 1.8❄6 FebMarch: 2.28 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 2.3❄4 MarApril: 3.77 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.8❄1 AprMay: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.50 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.5 OctNovember: 2.71 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 2.7❄1 NovDecember: 2.10 in precipitation, 8.7 in snowfall 2.1❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Peru, IL (6 mi away); precipitation: Peru, IL (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

613295b
Ladd, IL · 2 mi
613595b
Seatonville, IL · 3 mi
613205b
Dalzell, IL · 3 mi
613545b
Peru, IL · 4 mi
613225b
Depue, IL · 5 mi
613175b
Cherry, IL · 6 mi
613125b
Arlington, IL · 6 mi
613405b
Mark, IL · 6 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 61362

What planting zone is ZIP code 61362?

ZIP code 61362 (Spring Valley, 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 Spring Valley, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 61362 is April 24; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Peru station.

When is the first frost in Spring Valley, IL?

The median first fall frost near 61362 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 176 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 61362?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 61362 get?

About 38 inches of precipitation a year and 29 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Peru station).

How hot do summers get in Spring Valley, IL?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 61362 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hartsburg at the center of ZIP 61362: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.8 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Spring Valley, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 61362 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Spring Valley, IL?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 61362 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).