Frost dates for ZIP 62997 (Willisville, 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, Sparta 1 W, IL (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)191 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°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 62997 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 early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 28 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
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 22: 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) | Mar 29 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 12 |
| 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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 24 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 12 | Oct 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 1 | Nov 1 |
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 62997
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 22). 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 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 22–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 8–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 1–15 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (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: Sparta 1 W, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00118147), elevation 535 ft, 11.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock, IL | 19 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 30 |
| Du Quoin 4 SE, IL | 22 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 22 |
| Carbondale Southern Il AP, IL | 23 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 62997
When is the last frost in 62997?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 62997 is April 12. 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 62997?
The average first fall freeze is October 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 7.
What hardiness zone is 62997?
ZIP 62997 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 62997 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
62272 Percy 62916 Campbell Hill 62238 Cutler 62288 Steeleville 62907 Ava 62280 Rockwood 62233 Chester 62286 Sparta
Other ZIP codes in Perry County
62237 62238 62274 62832 62888 All Perry County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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