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

Planting zone for 62012 — Brighton, IL

ZIP code 62012 (Brighton, Jersey County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 62012 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 14
First frostOct 19
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Brighton, 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 Brighton, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season187 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Jerseyville 2 Sw, IL — 11 miles away, elevation 630 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 62012

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 62012 came on Mar 10 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19).

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 6b in Illinois

620 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 80

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 222

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 182

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 °F

Vines 11

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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Brighton, IL.

Soil in Brighton, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62012 is Elco — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Elco silt loam, 5 to 10 percent slopes, 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 62012; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Brighton, IL

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights118nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,714base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation39.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall17 inper year; 16 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 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 32 °F 53°32° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.49 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 2.5❄5 JanFebruary: 2.21 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 2.2❄5 FebMarch: 3.13 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.1❄2 MarApril: 4.40 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.4 AprMay: 5.18 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.13 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 2.44 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 2.4❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Jerseyville 2 Sw, IL (11 mi away); precipitation: Medora 1 S, 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.

620796b
Piasa, IL · 4 mi
620027a
Alton, IL · 7 mi
620356b
Godfrey, IL · 8 mi
620187a
Cottage Hills, IL · 10 mi
620226b
Dow, IL · 10 mi
620216b
Dorsey, IL · 10 mi
620106b
Bethalto, IL · 10 mi
620526b
Jerseyville, IL · 10 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62012

What planting zone is ZIP code 62012?

ZIP code 62012 (Brighton, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Brighton, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62012 is April 14; after April 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jerseyville 2 Sw station.

When is the first frost in Brighton, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62012 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 187 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62012?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 17 – Mar 3 and set transplants outside around Apr 21 – May 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62012 get?

About 39.8 inches of precipitation a year and 17 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Medora 1 S station).

How hot do summers get in Brighton, IL?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 29 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62012 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Elco at the center of ZIP 62012: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Brighton, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62012 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Brighton, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62012 is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 62012 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 62012 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.