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

Planting zone for 62879 — Sailor Springs, IL

ZIP code 62879 (Sailor Springs, Clay County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 62879 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 9
First frostOct 24
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Sailor Springs, 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 Sailor Springs, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Flora, IL — 9 miles away, elevation 482 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 62879

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 62879 came on Mar 7 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

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 Sailor Springs, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62879 is Hoyleton — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

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 62879; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sailor Springs, IL

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights109nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,018base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall12 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 21 °F 39°21° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 63 °F 88°63° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 55 °F 82°55° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.95 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 3.0❄3 JanFebruary: 2.54 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 2.5❄3 FebMarch: 3.83 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.8❄1 MarApril: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 JunJuly: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 3.26 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.3❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Flora, IL (9 mi away); precipitation: Flora, IL (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

624346b
Ingraham, IL · 6 mi
628246b
Clay City, IL · 7 mi
628586b
Louisville, IL · 8 mi
628686b
Noble, IL · 9 mi
628396b
Flora, IL · 10 mi
624256b
Dundas, IL · 15 mi
624506b
Olney, IL · 15 mi
628786b
Rinard, IL · 15 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62879

What planting zone is ZIP code 62879?

ZIP code 62879 (Sailor Springs, 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 Sailor Springs, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62879 is April 9; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Flora station.

When is the first frost in Sailor Springs, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62879 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62879?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 12 – Feb 26 and set transplants outside around Apr 16 – Apr 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62879 get?

About 48 inches of precipitation a year and 12 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Flora station).

How hot do summers get in Sailor Springs, IL?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 45 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62879 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hoyleton at the center of ZIP 62879: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.0 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Sailor Springs, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62879 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sailor Springs, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62879 is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 62879 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 62879 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.