When to plant garden cress in Chicago, Illinois
April 10 – April 24
Direct-sow outdoors · typical Chicago yearClimate basis: NOAA station Chicago Northerly Is, IL (USC00111550), 2 mi (3 km) from downtown Chicago (ZCTA 60602 centroid), elevation 583 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Direct-sow garden cress from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 10). One year in ten still freezes after April 25.
The Chicago year
- indoors under lights
- in the garden
- frost-free season
- 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 25
Every method, with its sources
Direct-sow outdoors
Apr 10 – Apr 24Utah State University Extension says garden cress "does not tolerate frost so plant near the frost free date", and Arkansas Extension's culture line reads "seed shallow depth after danger of frost"; both open at the last spring frost, and this later interval supersedes Arkansas' looser "as soon as the ground can be worked" sentence, giving last spring frost to plus 14 days. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 10). Utah State University Extension · University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service
Start seeds indoors
Not calculatedThe cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.
Transplant outdoors
Not calculatedThe cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.
Fall planting
Not calculatedNo source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.
Variety assumption: Offsets are for garden cress (Lepidium sativum), a 10–40 day cutting green; watercress and upland cress are different species with different requirements and are not covered by this entry.
These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.
Crop rule sources (2)
- Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Garden Cress in Your Garden (accessed 2026-07-25)"Garden cress does not tolerate frost so plant near the frost free date for your area."
- University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service: Garden Cress (Home Gardening Series, FSA6084) (accessed 2026-07-25)"Planting – seed shallow depth after danger of frost"