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

Planting zone for 62221 — Belleville, IL

ZIP code 62221 (Belleville, St. Clair County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 62221 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 12
First frostOct 20
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Belleville, 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 Belleville, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 3
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Belleville Siu Rsch, IL — 3 miles away, elevation 449 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 62221

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
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 12) 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 62221 came on Mar 6 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).

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 7a in Illinois

633 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 81

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 110

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 226

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 186

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 13

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Belleville, IL.

Soil in Belleville, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62221 is Edwardsville — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Edwardsville silt 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 62221; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Belleville, IL

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days53days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights93nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,520base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 51 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 28 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation43.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall11 inper year; 12 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 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 68 °F 90°68° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 65 °F 89°65° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 57 °F 83°57° SepOctober: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.56 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 2.6❄3 JanFebruary: 2.16 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 2.2❄3 FebMarch: 3.44 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.4❄1 MarApril: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 AprMay: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 3.60 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.6❄1 NovDecember: 2.61 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 2.6❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Belleville Siu Rsch, IL (3 mi away); precipitation: Belleville Siu Rsch, IL (3 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.

622256b
Scott Air Force Base, IL · 4 mi
622207a
Belleville, IL · 6 mi
622267a
Belleville, IL · 6 mi
622437a
Freeburg, IL · 6 mi
622697a
O Fallon, IL · 6 mi
622227a
Belleville, IL · 6 mi
622586b
Mascoutah, IL · 7 mi
622087a
Fairview Heights, IL · 8 mi

All 5 ZIP codes in Belleville → · Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62221

What planting zone is ZIP code 62221?

ZIP code 62221 (Belleville, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Belleville, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62221 is April 12; after April 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Belleville Siu Rsch station.

When is the first frost in Belleville, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62221 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62221?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 15 – Mar 1 and set transplants outside around Apr 19 – May 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62221 get?

About 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Belleville Siu Rsch station).

How hot do summers get in Belleville, IL?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 53 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62221 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Edwardsville at the center of ZIP 62221: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Belleville, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62221 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Belleville, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62221 is 14 h 51 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 62221 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 62221 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.