Elkhart, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Elkhart is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 21, giving about 175 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 26
- Typical first frost
- October 21
- Frost-free season
- 175 days
Frost dates in Elkhart
Last spring frost
- April 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 26Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 12Safe: 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 175 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 16 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Goshen 3sw, 12.4 miles SSE of the city center and 103 feet higher. 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 Elkhart
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, 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: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, 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 or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Elkhart
All 3 of Elkhart's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Goshen 3sw, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Elkhart
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Jul 22 to Aug 26 |
| Cilantro | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Basil | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Onions | Jan 4 to Feb 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 16 to 30 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 16 to 30 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 26 to Mar 26 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 5 to 26 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 29 to Jun 5 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 9 to 23 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 16 to 30 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 5 to Sep 2 |
| Peas | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Spinach | Mar 15 to 22 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 26 to May 17 | — |
| Zinnias | May 18 to 25 | Jun 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 9 to Nov 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 9 to Oct 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Sep 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Mishawaka, IN zone 6a, last frost May 1
- South Bend, IN zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Kalamazoo, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 28
- Battle Creek, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Fort Wayne, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 24
- Gary, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 22
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Elkhart
Questions
When is the last frost in Elkhart?
Around April 26 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Goshen 3sw. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 12.
What planting zone is Elkhart in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Elkhart?
Start seeds indoors March 19 to April 2 and set plants out May 14 to 28.
When is the first frost in Elkhart?
Around October 21 in a typical year, and before October 6 about 1 year in 10.