Columbus, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Columbus is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 11 and the first fall frost around October 25, giving about 195 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 11
- Typical first frost
- October 25
- Frost-free season
- 195 days
Frost dates in Columbus
Last spring frost
- March 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 11Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 30Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 25Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 7Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 195 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 1 and returns around November 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Columbus, 4.3 miles ENE of the city center. 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 Columbus
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, 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, daylilies, 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 Columbus
All 2 of Columbus's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Columbus, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Columbus
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 9 to 23 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 14 to 28 | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 26 to Aug 30 |
| Cilantro | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Basil | Mar 16 to 30 | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 5 to 12 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Oct 25 to Nov 8 |
| Onions | Dec 20 to Jan 31 | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 16 to Mar 16 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Aug 2 to 23 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 11 to 25 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 28 | Aug 9 to Sep 6 |
| Peas | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Spinach | Feb 28 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 16 to Sep 20 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 11 to May 2 | — |
| Zinnias | May 8 to 15 | Jun 5 to 19 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 13 to Nov 8 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 13 to Oct 25 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Sep 13 to 27 |
Nearby cities
- Greenwood, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Bloomington, IN zone 6b, last frost Apr 15
- Indianapolis city, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Lawrence, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Fishers, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Carmel, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Columbus
Questions
When is the last frost in Columbus?
Around April 11 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Columbus. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 30.
What planting zone is Columbus in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Columbus?
Start seeds indoors March 9 to 23 and set plants out May 4 to 18.
When is the first frost in Columbus?
Around October 25 in a typical year, and before October 12 about 1 year in 10.