Having lived in the Chicago area for 20 years I can give you some advice. We had frosts as late as June 15. This was not common but this year in Chicago has been pretty cold. Plants such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants etc should not be planted until all danger of frost is over and the ground temperature is 60 degrees. Peas, cabbages, broccoli, etc are cold lovers and can go in earlier. Peas can go in while there is still snow on the ground as long as ground temperature is 40 degrees. I would start with plants rather than seeds. You need too long a growing season to start from seed and Chicago doesnt have that long a growing season. If you buy perennials and herbs, plant after all danger of frost but these will come back year after year and they will have a pretty good idea of when the right time is to come up again. Basil wants the ground and air extremely warm so dont plant until it is really warm…June. Mints or mint plants such as oregano, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm can go in earlier than basil as they dont mind the cold as much as basil will. If you grow mints, surround or enclose because they will take over your garden if not contained and this includes oregano. Happy Gardening..Memorial Day is the usual kick off but Chicago has gotten colder. Pay real close attention to the plants that you buy. Try to make sure you dont have long season tomatoes and peppers or you wont be getting and crops until October. Look specifically for early varieties.
After the danger of the last frost is past. For you that will probably be Memorial Day.
jt c said on 06-02-2010
Tomatoes are very sensitive to frost so they cannot be outside unprotected in your area until May. It is easy to obtain six packs of tomatoes at garden centers. Herbs can be started at the same time.
Chris Sonnet said on 06-02-2010
Tomatoes take 6 weeks from seeding. You can transplant them two weeks before the last frost if you cover them up at night.
Calypso said on 06-02-2010
Here is an idea… you can start your plants indoors now to give them a head start in the spring. You will need…a good seed starter soil, or Jiffy pots (they are compressed sphagnum moss pellets, or a sm. greenhouse kit, both are sold at Lowes, Home Depot or your local nursery). I use empty egg cartons, fill them up with soil, moisten the soil & plant the seeds in the egg containers. If you have a little more room, you can use empty gal. milk containers – just cut the top 3/4 off, fill with moistened soil & plant your seeds. It’s important to keep the soil from being too soggy, that will cause mold or fungus to grow. Or you can wait until your local Lowes, Home Depot or a nursery has their bedding plants out for sale, then you can buy starter plants in the variaties you want. But in Chicago, I do believe your last day of frost in in early to mid May. But you can still plant your plants, just make sure they are covered at nite when there is an expected frost. You can use a frost blanket, flower pots that are covered with a plastic film (the drainage holes in the bottom MUST be covered to prevent the frost from settling in), 2 old sheets (one on top of the other), anything to keep frost from forming on your plants. Just remember to take off the covering after the air warms to at least 34 degrees. Good Luck!!!
Having lived in the Chicago area for 20 years I can give you some advice. We had frosts as late as June 15. This was not common but this year in Chicago has been pretty cold. Plants such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants etc should not be planted until all danger of frost is over and the ground temperature is 60 degrees. Peas, cabbages, broccoli, etc are cold lovers and can go in earlier. Peas can go in while there is still snow on the ground as long as ground temperature is 40 degrees. I would start with plants rather than seeds. You need too long a growing season to start from seed and Chicago doesnt have that long a growing season. If you buy perennials and herbs, plant after all danger of frost but these will come back year after year and they will have a pretty good idea of when the right time is to come up again. Basil wants the ground and air extremely warm so dont plant until it is really warm…June. Mints or mint plants such as oregano, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm can go in earlier than basil as they dont mind the cold as much as basil will. If you grow mints, surround or enclose because they will take over your garden if not contained and this includes oregano. Happy Gardening..Memorial Day is the usual kick off but Chicago has gotten colder. Pay real close attention to the plants that you buy. Try to make sure you dont have long season tomatoes and peppers or you wont be getting and crops until October. Look specifically for early varieties.
HI,
Use this link http://www.almanac.com/garden/frostus.php
to determine the frost free date for your area.
And this link to determine when to plant what: http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/1,7518,s1-5-19-212,00.html
Happy gardening!
After the danger of the last frost is past. For you that will probably be Memorial Day.
Tomatoes are very sensitive to frost so they cannot be outside unprotected in your area until May. It is easy to obtain six packs of tomatoes at garden centers. Herbs can be started at the same time.
Tomatoes take 6 weeks from seeding. You can transplant them two weeks before the last frost if you cover them up at night.
Here is an idea… you can start your plants indoors now to give them a head start in the spring. You will need…a good seed starter soil, or Jiffy pots (they are compressed sphagnum moss pellets, or a sm. greenhouse kit, both are sold at Lowes, Home Depot or your local nursery). I use empty egg cartons, fill them up with soil, moisten the soil & plant the seeds in the egg containers. If you have a little more room, you can use empty gal. milk containers – just cut the top 3/4 off, fill with moistened soil & plant your seeds. It’s important to keep the soil from being too soggy, that will cause mold or fungus to grow. Or you can wait until your local Lowes, Home Depot or a nursery has their bedding plants out for sale, then you can buy starter plants in the variaties you want. But in Chicago, I do believe your last day of frost in in early to mid May. But you can still plant your plants, just make sure they are covered at nite when there is an expected frost. You can use a frost blanket, flower pots that are covered with a plastic film (the drainage holes in the bottom MUST be covered to prevent the frost from settling in), 2 old sheets (one on top of the other), anything to keep frost from forming on your plants. Just remember to take off the covering after the air warms to at least 34 degrees. Good Luck!!!