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

Planting zone for 62985 — Simpson, IL

ZIP code 62985 (Simpson, Johnson County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 62985 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 14
First frostOct 21
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 Simpson, 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 Simpson, IL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 2 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Dixon Springs Agric Center, IL — 2 miles away, elevation 528 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 62985

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 62985 came on Mar 2 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 9).

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 Simpson, IL.

Soil in Simpson, IL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 62985 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%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Grantsburg silt loam, 10 to 18 percent slopes, severely eroded.

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 62985; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Simpson, IL

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights80nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,288base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation50.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall7 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 67 °F 88°67° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.84 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 3.8❄2 JanFebruary: 3.64 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 3.6❄3 FebMarch: 4.66 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.7❄1 MarApril: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 AprMay: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 3.84 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.8 OctNovember: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 4.16 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 4.2❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dixon Springs Agric Center, IL (2 mi away); precipitation: Dixon Springs Agric Center, IL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

629287a
Eddyville, IL · 7 mi
629437a
Grantsburg, IL · 8 mi
629677a
New Burnside, IL · 9 mi
629727a
Ozark, IL · 9 mi
629387a
Golconda, IL · 10 mi
629877a
Stonefort, IL · 11 mi
629957a
Vienna, IL · 11 mi
629227a
Creal Springs, IL · 13 mi

Illinois planting zones →

Questions about 62985

What planting zone is ZIP code 62985?

ZIP code 62985 (Simpson, 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 Simpson, IL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 62985 is April 14; after April 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dixon Springs Agric Center station.

When is the first frost in Simpson, IL?

The median first fall frost near 62985 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 189 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 62985?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 17 – Mar 3 and set transplants outside around Apr 21 – May 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 62985 get?

About 50.5 inches of precipitation a year and 7 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dixon Springs Agric Center station).

How hot do summers get in Simpson, IL?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 47 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 62985 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Grantsburg at the center of ZIP 62985: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Simpson, IL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 62985 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Simpson, IL?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 62985 is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 62985 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 62985 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.