Frost dates for ZIP 62431 (Herrick, IL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Ramsey, IL (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)185 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 62431 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 19: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 1 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 19 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 31 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 26 | Oct 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 15 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 4 | Oct 30 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 62431
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 19). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 25–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–22 (transplant) Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 18–25 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 18–25 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 22–29 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 4–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Ramsey, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00117126), elevation 600 ft, 7.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pana, IL | 11 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Shelbyville Dam, IL | 17 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 24 |
| Brownstown 4 SW, IL | 19 mi | Apr 3 | Oct 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 62431
When is the last frost in 62431?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 62431 is April 15. For a more cautious planting date, use May 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 62431?
The average first fall freeze is October 19. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 3.
What hardiness zone is 62431?
ZIP 62431 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 62431 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
62422 Cowden 62553 Oconee 62080 Ramsey 62438 Lakewood 62414 Beecher City 62571 Tower Hill 62557 Pana 62011 Bingham
Other ZIP codes in Shelby County
61957 62422 62438 62444 62462 62463 62465 62534 62550 62553 62565 62571 All Shelby County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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