I'm in zone 5 and was inspired by the MJF mag to plan something in a file box. What veggie would you farmgirls plant in there now to harvest before the first frost?
Many lettuces can easily withstand an early frost -- in fact thrive on cold weather. Ditto staples like parsley. Browse the Johnny's Seeds Web site for wonderfully detailed descriptions of the many varieties of seeds they sell to get an idea of what grows well in your area. Better yet, ask an Illinois FarmGirl. I'm sure there must be hundreds!
Browse through www.selectseeds.com. They have a large selection of heirlooms varieties that do well and are marked according to zones. I've had nothing but luck from them!
Dawn, that's a new company to me, so thanks for the link. I'll look into their offerings with next year in mind. (Gosh, is it time to think that far ahead already???