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

Planting zone for 62979 — Ridgway, IL

ZIP code 62979 (Ridgway, Gallatin County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost October 31.

Where ZIP 62979 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 5
First frostOct 31
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ridgway, 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 Ridgway, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 31median — 10% chance by Oct 19
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 24 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Jt Myers Locks & Dam, IN — 13 miles away, elevation 341 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 62979

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
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 5) 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 62979 came on Mar 2 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 7a in Illinois

633 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Illinois, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 81

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 110

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 226

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 186

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 13

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Ridgway, IL.

Soil in Ridgway, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62979 is Reesville — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Reesville 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 62979; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ridgway, IL

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights80nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,262base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 47 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 32 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

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 26 °F 42°26° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 29 °F 45°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 AprMay: 4.95 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 NovDecember: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Jt Myers Locks & Dam, IN (13 mi away); precipitation: Shawneetown Old Town, IL (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

628717a
Omaha, IL · 5 mi
629847a
Shawneetown, IL · 6 mi
629547a
Junction, IL · 8 mi
629347a
Equality, IL · 10 mi
628677a
New Haven, IL · 10 mi
628697a
Norris City, IL · 10 mi
629307a
Eldorado, IL · 12 mi
628347a
Emma, IL · 13 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62979

What planting zone is ZIP code 62979?

ZIP code 62979 (Ridgway, IL) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Ridgway, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62979 is April 5; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jt Myers Locks & Dam station.

When is the first frost in Ridgway, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62979 is October 31, giving a median frost-free growing season of 209 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62979?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 8 – Feb 22 and set transplants outside around Apr 12 – Apr 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62979 get?

About 47.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shawneetown Old Town station).

How hot do summers get in Ridgway, IL?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 44 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62979 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Reesville at the center of ZIP 62979: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Ridgway, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62979 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ridgway, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62979 is 14 h 47 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 62979 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 62979 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.