Mulberry Grove, Illinois, sits in USDA hardiness zones 6a-7b — a zone band wide enough that plant choice, not possibility, is the interesting question.
These conditions suit sweet corn, tomato, pumpkin, and apple — a starting list any specific site will trim or extend with its own soil, sun, and drainage.
Even in Mulberry Grove, no two yards are alike.
A low spot, a south-facing slope, or a stand of trees moves the frost date and sun across a single Mulberry Grove lot. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Quick Facts
USDA Zones
6a-7b
Last Hard Freeze (28°F)
Mar 8
Town normal — light frosts run a few weeks later
First Hard Freeze (28°F)
Nov 26
Town normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier
Town Area
650 acres
Hardiness Zone Range
Zone maps are averages across Mulberry Grove. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.
Soil varies lot by lot — soil types explained.
What Grows in Mulberry Grove
Plants matched to Mulberry Grove's USDA zones 6a-7b — each links to its full growing profile.
Is it too late to plant in Mulberry Grove?
Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 8; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 8 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 26 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. And with a calendar this mild, the honest answer is that planting barely stops — winter opens seasons colder regions never see.
Growing Challenges in Illinois
What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.
Heavy clay soils in northern IL drain poorly
A raised bed solves the standing-water problem in a weekend; fall compost keeps improving the clay beneath it.
Extreme temperature swings between summer and winter
Wide swings reward truly hardy varieties and a deep mulch blanket — insulation smooths what the weather won't.
Japanese beetles are a major garden pest
Hand-pick into soapy water early and often, and skip the traps (they attract more than they catch) — extension IPM guides have the rest.
For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Illinois, the University of Illinois Extension is the authoritative local source.
Environmental Intelligence
Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.
Total Sites
158
within ~10 miles of Mulberry Grove
Risk Level
Moderate
Highest-severity
7 Toxics Release Inventory facilities
Sources Checked
within ~10 miles of Mulberry Grove
Severity Distribution
within ~10 miles of Mulberry Grove
Highest-Severity Sites
A note from Gnorman
What an experienced grower watches for around here
In and around Mulberry Grove, two things run higher than the national average — PFAS (3 sites) and CAFO (3 sites). It's not cause for alarm — it's worth knowing, and there's a sensible way to grow around it.
PFAS: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are called "forever chemicals" because they do not biodegrade.
CAFO: CAFOs pose a different contamination profile than chemical sources.
Test irrigation water source — this is the primary pathway for PFAS to reach garden crops.
Wash all produce consumed raw thoroughly, especially leafy greens grown near CAFOs.
Check your specific parcel in Mulberry Grove
Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Your Specific Parcel Matters
Mulberry Grove Average
- ●USDA Zones 6a-7b
- ●Generic soil type for the area
- ●State-average frost dates
YOUR Parcel
- ✓Your exact hardiness zone
- ✓Your SSURGO soil type & pH
- ✓Your sun exposure, cast in 3D
See MY Growing Report
Read your specific parcel in Mulberry Grove
Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Mulberry Grove, Illinois — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Key Growing Facts for Mulberry Grove, Illinois
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6a-7b (USDA PHZM 2023)
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 8 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 26 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
- Days Between Hard Freezes: ~263 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
- Land Area: 650 acres (US Census TIGER 2025)
Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. Boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zone is Mulberry Grove, Illinois?
Mulberry Grove sits in USDA hardiness zones 6a-7b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.
Is it too late to plant in Mulberry Grove?
Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 8; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 8 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 26 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. And with a calendar this mild, the honest answer is that planting barely stops — winter opens seasons colder regions never see.
When does frost risk typically end in Mulberry Grove?
The last hard freeze (28°F) in Mulberry Grove typically lands around Mar 8, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.
When is the first frost in Mulberry Grove?
The first hard freeze (28°F) in Mulberry Grove typically arrives around Nov 26, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — the point most tender summer crops finish. Lighter frosts usually reach a couple of weeks earlier, so watch the forecast from late summer on and harvest or cover tender plants before the first cold night.
What vegetables grow in Mulberry Grove?
Mulberry Grove's zones 6a-7b support a wide range — strong performers include Sweet Corn, Tomato, Pumpkin, Apple, and Coneflower. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.
Which hardiness zone is Mulberry Grove, really?
Officially, Mulberry Grove sits in USDA zones 6a-7b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.
Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Mulberry Grove?
The federal record around Mulberry Grove shows 158 documented sites — a typical footprint for a growing area, and proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. It's worth seeing which recorded sites sit closest to where you grow, and testing the soil before new food beds near any of them.
How do I protect my plants from frost in Mulberry Grove?
As the season closes around the first 28°F hard freeze near Nov 26 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals), a few moves buy time: cover tender plants with floating row cover or an old sheet on still, clear nights, water the soil the afternoon before a freeze so it holds warmth overnight, and harvest frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil before the first hard night. Hardy greens and root crops shrug off light frost and often sweeten after it, so leave them in.
Everything on this page is a Mulberry Grove average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.