Evansville, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Evansville is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 4 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 206 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 4
- Typical first frost
- October 29
- Frost-free season
- 206 days
Frost dates in Evansville
Last spring frost
- March 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 4Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 19Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 17Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 11Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 206 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 March 25 and returns around November 8.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 miles NNE 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 Evansville
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, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Evansville
All 8 of Evansville's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Evansville Regional Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47710 | 7a | Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNE | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
| 47711 | 7a | Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNE | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
| 47712 | 7a | Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNE | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
| 47713 | 7a | Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNE | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
| 47714 | 7a | Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNE | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
| 47715 | 7a | Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNE | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
| 47720 | 7a | Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNE | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
| 47725 | 7a | Evansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNE | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Evansville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Cilantro | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 11 | — |
| Basil | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Onions | Dec 13 to Jan 24 | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 6 to Mar 6 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 14 to Apr 4 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 4 to 18 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 17 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Peas | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Feb 21 to 28 | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 4 to 25 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 29 to May 6 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 17 to Nov 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 17 to Oct 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
Nearby cities
- Owensboro, KY zone 7a, last frost Apr 2
- Bowling Green, KY zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Bloomington, IN zone 6b, last frost Apr 15
- Clarksville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Terre Haute, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Jeffersonville, IN zone 7a, last frost Mar 31
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Evansville
Questions
When is the last frost in Evansville?
Around April 4 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Evansville Regional Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 19.
What planting zone is Evansville in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Evansville?
Start seeds indoors February 27 to March 13 and set plants out April 24 to May 8.
When is the first frost in Evansville?
Around October 29 in a typical year, and before October 17 about 1 year in 10.