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

Planting zone for 62846 — Ina, IL

ZIP code 62846 (Ina, Jefferson County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost October 28.

Where ZIP 62846 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 4
First frostOct 28
2012 zone6b

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 Service

Loading the forecast for Ina, 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 Ina, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 28median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season206 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 25 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Benton 2 N, IL — 9 miles away, elevation 446 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 62846

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 2 – Sep 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 14 – Nov 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Oct 28) 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 62846 came on Mar 2 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

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).

Soil in Ina, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62846 is Bluford — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Bluford 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 62846; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ina, IL

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights93nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,190base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 37 °F 55°37° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 56 °F 76°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 37 °F 55°37° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 MarApril: 5.25 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 6.08 in precipitation 6.1 MayJune: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 OctNovember: 3.66 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Benton 2 N, IL (9 mi away); precipitation: Belle Rive 1.7 Nne, IL (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

628166b
Bonnie, IL · 5 mi
628366b
Ewing, IL · 5 mi
628976b
Whittington, IL · 5 mi
628666b
Nason, IL · 6 mi
628106b
Belle Rive, IL · 7 mi
628726b
Opdyke, IL · 9 mi
628606b
Macedonia, IL · 10 mi
628127a
Benton, IL · 11 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62846

What planting zone is ZIP code 62846?

ZIP code 62846 (Ina, 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 Ina, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62846 is April 4; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Benton 2 N station.

When is the first frost in Ina, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62846 is October 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 206 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62846?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 7 – Feb 21 and set transplants outside around Apr 11 – Apr 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62846 get?

About 47 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Belle Rive 1.7 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Ina, IL?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 43 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62846 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bluford at the center of ZIP 62846: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ina, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62846 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ina, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62846 is 14 h 49 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.