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

Planting zone for 62863 — Mount Carmel, IL

ZIP code 62863 (Mount Carmel, Wabash County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 62863 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 2
First frostOct 31
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 Mount Carmel, 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 Mount Carmel, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 18
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 22 and returns around November 11.

From the NOAA station Mt Carmel, IL — 6 miles away, elevation 430 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 62863

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 5 – Sep 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 17 – Nov 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Oct 31) 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 62863 came on Mar 6 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15).

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 Mount Carmel, IL.

Soil in Mount Carmel, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62863 is Belknap — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drained and either protected from flooding or not frequently flooded during the growing seasonUSDA classification

Map unit: Belknap silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently 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 62863; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mount Carmel, IL

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days46days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,258base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 51 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall9 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 25 °F 40°25° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 27 °F 45°27° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 69 °F 87°69° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 67 °F 86°67° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.58 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.6❄2 JanFebruary: 3.09 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 3.1❄3 FebMarch: 4.06 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 4.1❄1 MarApril: 5.08 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 MayJune: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.79 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.8 OctNovember: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 NovDecember: 3.45 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 3.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Carmel, IL (6 mi away); precipitation: Mt Carmel, IL (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

628116b
Bellmont, IL · 3 mi
628526b
Keensburg, IL · 5 mi
628186b
Browns, IL · 6 mi
628156b
Bone Gap, IL · 6 mi
624106b
Allendale, IL · 11 mi
476656b
Owensville, IN · 11 mi
624766b
West Salem, IL · 12 mi
628066b
Albion, IL · 12 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62863

What planting zone is ZIP code 62863?

ZIP code 62863 (Mount Carmel, 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 Mount Carmel, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62863 is April 2; after April 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Carmel station.

When is the first frost in Mount Carmel, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62863 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 209 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62863?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 5 – Feb 19 and set transplants outside around Apr 9 – Apr 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62863 get?

About 48.7 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Carmel station).

How hot do summers get in Mount Carmel, IL?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 46 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62863 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Belknap at the center of ZIP 62863: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Mount Carmel, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62863 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mount Carmel, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62863 is 14 h 51 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.