Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 62440 (Lerna, 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, Mattoon Coles Co AP, IL (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)189 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 (46 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 (46 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 62440 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 24: 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 2 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 30 |
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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 5 |
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 13 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 15 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 2 | Nov 3 |
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 62440
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 24). 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 29–Sep 19 (transplant) Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 4–25 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–22 (transplant) Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 4–18 (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 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (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 15–Sep 12 (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: Mattoon Coles Co AP, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00053802), elevation 721 ft, 5.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mattoon, IL | 7 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| Charleston, IL | 8 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 23 |
| Neoga 4NW, IL | 13 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 20 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 62440
When is the last frost in 62440?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 62440 is April 15. For a more cautious planting date, use April 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 62440?
The average first fall freeze is October 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 9.
What hardiness zone is 62440?
ZIP 62440 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 62440 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
62469 Trilla 62468 Toledo 61938 Mattoon 61920 Charleston 62447 Neoga 62428 Greenup 62474 Westfield 61928 Gays
Other ZIP codes in Coles County
61912 61920 61931 61938 61943 All Coles County frost dates · Illinois frost dates
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