Frost dates for 61053Mount Carroll, IL
The average last spring frost in Mount Carroll is May 2 and the average first fall frost is October 7, giving a typical growing season of about 154 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- May 2
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 7
- Growing season
- 154 days
Safer after May 18 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Sep 24 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 183 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Apr 30 · May 14 · May 28 | Sep 15 · Sep 27 · Oct 8 | 135 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Apr 18 · May 2 · May 18 | Sep 24 · Oct 7 · Oct 20 | 154 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Apr 9 · Apr 23 · May 9 | Oct 3 · Oct 16 · Oct 30 | 174 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Mount Carroll
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Apr 1 – Jun 7 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | May 18 – Jun 17 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Apr 1 – May 2 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | Jun 1 – Jul 2 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Apr 18 – May 17 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | Jun 1 – Jul 2 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Jun 1 – Jun 27 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | May 18 – Jul 2 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | Jun 1 – Jul 2 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | May 18 – Jul 20 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | May 18 – Jun 17 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | Jun 1 – Jul 2 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 25 – Jun 17 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 1 – May 17 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Apr 1 – Jun 1 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 18 – Mar 17 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 18 – May 17 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 14 – Apr 17 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 18 – May 17 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 7 – Jun 17 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 7 – Jul 18 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 4 – Apr 1 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 1 – May 2 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | May 28 – Jun 27 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jun 27 – Jul 28 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 1 – Jun 17 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 27 – Aug 13 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 25 – May 8 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 14 – Aug 18 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 1 – May 22 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 27 – Aug 28 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 18 – May 8 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 20 – Jul 28 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | May 2 – Jun 17 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | May 28 – Jul 13 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Sep 27 – Oct 28 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 61053 is matched to the NOAA station Mt Carroll, IL, 0.8 km away, at 640 ft elevation (154 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Carroll, IL (used) | 640 ft | May 2 | Oct 7 |
| Fulton L&D #13, IL | 592 ft | Apr 13 | Oct 26 |
| Elizabeth, IL | 675 ft | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| Polo 5Nw, IL | 856 ft | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
Frost dates near Mount Carroll
- Savanna, IL 61074 · last May 2, first Oct 7
- Lanark, IL 61046 · last Apr 29, first Oct 7
- Chadwick, IL 61014 · last May 2, first Oct 7
- Thomson, IL 61285 · last Apr 13, first Oct 26
- Sabula, IA 52070 · last May 2, first Oct 7
- Shannon, IL 61078 · last Apr 29, first Oct 7
- Pearl City, IL 61062 · last Apr 27, first Oct 9
- Teeds Grove, IA 52771 · last Apr 13, first Oct 26
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Mount Carroll, IL?
- For ZIP code 61053, the average last spring frost (32°F) is May 2, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Mt Carroll, IL weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after May 18.
- When is the first frost in Mount Carroll, IL?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 7. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by September 24, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 61053?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 154 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.