Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 62621 (Bluffs, 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, Winchester, IL (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1850% 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)183 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
59°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 56°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Elsberry PMC (42 mi), Mark Twain HS (55 mi).
4-inch depth
60°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Elsberry PMC (42 mi), Mark Twain HS (55 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 62621 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 60°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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 18 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 5 |
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) | 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 30 | Oct 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 5 | Oct 29 |
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 62621
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 18) 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 21–Mar 7 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 28–Apr 18 (transplant) Mar 21–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 18 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 7–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 7–21 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 7–21 | Apr 4–25 (transplant) Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 14–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 21–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 21–28 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 21–28 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 21–28 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 21–28 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 21–28 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 24–Feb 7 | Apr 25–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 7–21 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 7–21 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 21–Apr 4 (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: Winchester, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00119331), elevation 551 ft, 7.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville 2, IL | 16 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 21 |
| Pittsfield #2, IL | 17 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 21 |
| Perry 6 NW, IL | 17 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 62621
When is the last frost in 62621?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 62621 is April 18. For a more cautious planting date, use May 5, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 62621?
The average first fall freeze is October 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 5.
What hardiness zone is 62621?
ZIP 62621 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 62621 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
62665 Meredosia 62628 Chapin 62694 Winchester 62323 62340 Griggsville 62631 Concord 62611 Arenzville 62352 Milton
Other ZIP codes in Scott County
62610 62663 62694 All Scott County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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