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

Planting zone for 62027 — Eldred, IL

ZIP code 62027 (Eldred, Greene County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 62027 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 20
First frostOct 20
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 Eldred, 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 Eldred, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season181 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Elsberry 1 S, MO — 14 miles away, elevation 476 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 62027

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 62027 came on Mar 7 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21).

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 Eldred, IL.

Soil in Eldred, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62027 is Haymond — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Haymond silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded.

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 62027; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Eldred, IL

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days42days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights107nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,788base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation41.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 24 °F 41°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.35 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 2.4❄5 JanFebruary: 2.21 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 2.2❄5 FebMarch: 3.20 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 3.2❄2 MarApril: 4.40 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.4 AprMay: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.28 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.3❄1 NovDecember: 2.47 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 2.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elsberry 1 S, MO (14 mi away); precipitation: Elsberry 1 S, MO (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

620456a
Hamburg, IL · 7 mi
620536a
Kampsville, IL · 8 mi
620166a
Carrollton, IL · 8 mi
620476b
Hardin, IL · 9 mi
620316b
Fieldon, IL · 9 mi
620546b
Kane, IL · 11 mi
633306b
Annada, MO · 13 mi
620506b
Hillview, IL · 14 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62027

What planting zone is ZIP code 62027?

ZIP code 62027 (Eldred, 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 Eldred, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62027 is April 20; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elsberry 1 S station.

When is the first frost in Eldred, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62027 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 181 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62027?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 23 – Mar 9 and set transplants outside around Apr 27 – May 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62027 get?

About 41.3 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elsberry 1 S station).

How hot do summers get in Eldred, IL?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 42 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62027 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Haymond at the center of ZIP 62027: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Eldred, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62027 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Eldred, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62027 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 62027 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 62027 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.