Planting zone for 62250 — Hoffman, IL
ZIP code 62250 (Hoffman, Clinton County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost October 29.
Where ZIP 62250 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
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 6b means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Hoffman, 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 Hoffman, IL
A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 28 and returns around November 8.
From the NOAA station Carlyle Rsvr, IL — 8 miles away, elevation 502 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 62250
Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 6) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 62250 came on Mar 2 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).
Mar 172026
Mar 2
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
Shrubs 108
Wildflowers & perennials 222
Grasses 182
Vines 11
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 Hoffman, IL.
Soil in Hoffman, IL
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62250 is Hoyleton — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.
Map unit: Hoyleton-Darmstadt silt loams, 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 62250; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Hoffman, IL
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Carlyle Rsvr, IL (8 mi away); precipitation: Centralia, IL (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.
Questions about 62250
What planting zone is ZIP code 62250?
ZIP code 62250 (Hoffman, 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 Hoffman, IL?
The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62250 is April 6; after April 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carlyle Rsvr station.
When is the first frost in Hoffman, IL?
The median first fall frost near 62250 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 204 days.
When should I plant tomatoes in 62250?
Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 9 – Feb 23 and set transplants outside around Apr 13 – Apr 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.
How much rain and snow does 62250 get?
About 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 7 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Centralia station).
How hot do summers get in Hoffman, IL?
The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 62250 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Hoyleton at the center of ZIP 62250: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).
Did spring come early in Hoffman, IL in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 62250 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Hoffman, IL?
Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62250 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.