Frost dates for 62565Shelbyville, IL
The average last spring frost in Shelbyville is April 10 and the average first fall frost is October 24, giving a typical growing season of about 195 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- Apr 10
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 24
- Growing season
- 195 days
Safer after Apr 28 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Oct 8 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 162 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 9 · Apr 22 · May 9 | Sep 30 · Oct 14 · Oct 27 | 173 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Mar 30 · Apr 10 · Apr 28 | Oct 8 · Oct 24 · Nov 5 | 195 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Mar 15 · Mar 31 · Apr 14 | Oct 20 · Nov 3 · Nov 21 | 217 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Shelbyville
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 | Mar 10 – May 16 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | Apr 26 – Jul 4 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Mar 10 – Apr 10 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | May 10 – Jun 10 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Mar 27 – Apr 25 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 10 – Jun 10 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | May 10 – Jul 14 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 – Jun 10 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | May 10 – Jun 10 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 – Aug 6 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Apr 26 – Jul 4 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | May 10 – Jun 10 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 3 – May 26 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 10 – Apr 25 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Mar 10 – May 10 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Jan 27 – Feb 23 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 27 – Apr 25 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 20 – Mar 26 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 27 – Apr 25 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 24 – Jul 4 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 24 – Aug 4 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 10 – Mar 10 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 10 – Apr 10 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 14 – Jul 14 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 14 – Aug 14 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 10 – May 26 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 14 – Aug 30 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 3 – Apr 16 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 31 – Sep 4 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 10 – Apr 30 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 14 – Sep 14 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 27 – Apr 16 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 7 – Aug 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 10 – May 26 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 14 – Jul 30 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Oct 14 – Nov 14 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 62565 is matched to the NOAA station Shelbyville Dam, IL, 6.2 km away, at 650 ft elevation (42 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelbyville Dam, IL (used) | 650 ft | Apr 10 | Oct 24 |
| Windsor, IL | 690 ft | Apr 16 | Oct 22 |
| Sullivan 3S, IL | 640 ft | Apr 15 | Oct 22 |
| Pana, IL | 650 ft | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
Frost dates near Shelbyville
- Findlay, IL 62534 · last Apr 10, first Oct 24
- Tower Hill, IL 62571 · last Apr 17, first Oct 23
- Lakewood, IL 62438 · last Apr 10, first Oct 24
- Strasburg, IL 62465 · last Apr 16, first Oct 22
- Windsor, IL 61957 · last Apr 16, first Oct 22
- Bethany, IL 61914 · last Apr 15, first Oct 22
- Assumption, IL 62510 · last Apr 17, first Oct 23
- Mode, IL 62444 · last Apr 10, first Oct 24
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Shelbyville, IL?
- For ZIP code 62565, the average last spring frost (32°F) is April 10, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Shelbyville Dam, IL weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after April 28.
- When is the first frost in Shelbyville, IL?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 24. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by October 8, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 62565?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 195 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.