Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 62561 (Riverton, 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, Springfield Capital AP, IL (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)187 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
56°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 52°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Champaign 9 SW (61 mi).
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 57°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Champaign 9 SW (61 mi).
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 62561 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 20: 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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 29 |
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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 25 | Oct 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 14 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 3 | 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 62561
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 20). 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 17–Mar 3 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 24–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 3–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 3–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 21 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 10–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 17–Mar 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 17–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 17–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 17–24 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 17–24 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 17–24 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 20–Feb 3 | Apr 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 3–17 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (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: Springfield Capital AP, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093822), elevation 594 ft, 9.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield #2, IL | 10 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 22 |
| Athens 4SW, IL | 16 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 19 |
| Petersburg 1E, IL | 20 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 21 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 62561
When is the last frost in 62561?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 62561 is April 14. For a more cautious planting date, use April 29, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 62561?
The average first fall freeze is October 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 5.
What hardiness zone is 62561?
ZIP 62561 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 62561 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
62520 Dawson 62684 Sherman 62693 Williamsville 62519 Cornland 62515 Buffalo 62707 Springfield 62702 Springfield 62701 Springfield
Other ZIP codes in Sangamon County
62515 62520 62530 62536 62539 62545 62558 62563 62615 62625 62629 62661 62670 62677 62684 62689 62693 62701 62702 62703 62704 62706 62707 62711 All Sangamon County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.