Carmel, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Carmel is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 21 and the first fall frost around October 21, giving about 183 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 21
- Typical first frost
- October 21
- Frost-free season
- 183 days
Frost dates in Carmel
Last spring frost
- April 5Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 21Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 8Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 6Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 2Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 183 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 8 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Carmel 3 E, 3.4 miles ESE of the city center and 101 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Carmel
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Carmel
All 5 of Carmel's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Carmel 3 E, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46032 | 6a | Carmel 3 E, 3.4 mi ESE | Apr 21 | Oct 21 |
| 46033 | 6a | Carmel 3 E, 3.4 mi ESE | Apr 21 | Oct 21 |
| 46074 | 6a | Carmel 3 E, 3.4 mi ESE | Apr 21 | Oct 21 |
| 46077 | 6a | Carmel 3 E, 3.4 mi ESE | Apr 21 | Oct 21 |
| 46280 | 6a | Carmel 3 E, 3.4 mi ESE | Apr 21 | Oct 21 |
Carmel 3 E also supplies the frost dates for Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield, so their planting calendars match Carmel's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Carmel
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 10 to 24 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 22 to Aug 26 |
| Cilantro | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 12 to 19 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Onions | Dec 30 to Feb 10 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 24 to Mar 24 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 31 to Apr 21 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 26 to Jun 2 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 21 to May 5 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 3 to 24 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 5 to Sep 2 |
| Peas | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Spinach | Mar 10 to 17 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 21 to May 12 | — |
| Zinnias | May 14 to 21 | Jun 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 9 to Nov 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 9 to Oct 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Sep 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Westfield, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Noblesville, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Fishers, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Lawrence, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Indianapolis city, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Greenwood, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Carmel
Questions
When is the last frost in Carmel?
Around April 21 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Carmel 3 E. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 8.
What planting zone is Carmel in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Carmel?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Carmel?
Around October 21 in a typical year, and before October 6 about 1 year in 10.