The USDA Zone info is a great tool for gardeners to help us determine your gardening schedule. The most important data that the zone info tells us is average last frost and the lowest expected temperature for your area.

By looking at the USDA zone info for Champaign you will be able to figure out when you can plant lotus vine.

Planting Calendar for Lotus Vine

Frost tolerance for lotus vine:	Tolerant of a very small amount of frost.
When to plant:	Up to 3 weeks before last frost.

Lotus Vine do ok in mild cold which tells us that you can plant them just a tiny bit earlier in the year than other frost tender plants.

The earliest that you can plant lotus vine in Champaign is March. However, you really should wait until April if you don't want to take any chances.

The last month that you can plant lotus vine and expect a good harvest is probably August. You probably don't want to wait any later than that or else your lotus vine may not have a chance to fully mature. Starting your lotus vine indoors is a great way to get them started a little bit earlier.

Last Frost Date

In Champaign the average date of last frost happens on April 15. In the coldest months of winter you should expect an average low temperature of -15°F.

Just be sure to remember that the actual date of last frost is just an average because it is based on the USDA zone info for Champaign and it can change quite a bit from year to year. Half of the time in Champaign last frost occurs after April 15 so make sure that you are ready to cover your lotus vine in the event of a surprise late frost.

USDA Zone Info for Champaign

Here is the info for USDA Zone 5b.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)	April 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)	October 15
Lowest Expected Low	-15°F
Highest Expected Low	-10°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is -15°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near -10°F.

Plants to Grow in Champaign

You may be interested in your other planting guides for Champaign.