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

Planting zone for 62860 — Macedonia, IL

ZIP code 62860 (Macedonia, Hamilton 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 62860 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 Macedonia, 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 Macedonia, 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 — 11 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 62860

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 62860 came on Mar 2 — 11 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 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 Macedonia, IL.

Soil in Macedonia, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62860 is Grantsburg — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Grantsburg silt loam, 2 to 5 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 62860; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Macedonia, 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 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall13 inper year; 14 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 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 · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.55 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 3.5❄4 JanFebruary: 2.90 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 2.9❄3 FebMarch: 4.53 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 4.5❄2 MarApril: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.38 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.4❄1 OctNovember: 4.41 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.4 NovDecember: 3.50 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 3.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Benton 2 N, IL (11 mi away); precipitation: Mcleansboro, IL (11 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.

628366b
Ewing, IL · 5 mi
628566b
Logan, IL · 8 mi
628906b
Thompsonville, IL · 9 mi
628466b
Ina, IL · 10 mi
628976b
Whittington, IL · 10 mi
628596b
Mc Leansboro, IL · 11 mi
628127a
Benton, IL · 11 mi
628106b
Belle Rive, IL · 11 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62860

What planting zone is ZIP code 62860?

ZIP code 62860 (Macedonia, 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 Macedonia, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62860 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 Macedonia, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62860 is October 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 206 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62860?

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 62860 get?

About 47.1 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mcleansboro station).

How hot do summers get in Macedonia, 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 62860 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Grantsburg at the center of ZIP 62860: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Macedonia, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62860 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Macedonia, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62860 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.