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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

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

  12. 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 codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
477107aEvansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNEApr 4Oct 29
477117aEvansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNEApr 4Oct 29
477127aEvansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNEApr 4Oct 29
477137aEvansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNEApr 4Oct 29
477147aEvansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNEApr 4Oct 29
477157aEvansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNEApr 4Oct 29
477207aEvansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNEApr 4Oct 29
477257aEvansville Regional Airport, 5.2 mi NNEApr 4Oct 29

Planting dates for popular crops in Evansville

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 24 to May 8—
Strawberries—Feb 21 to Mar 7—
LettuceFeb 7 to 21Mar 28 to Apr 11Jul 30 to Sep 3
CilantroFeb 21 to Mar 7Apr 4 to 11—
BasilMar 6 to 20Apr 24 to May 1—
Potatoes—Mar 27 to Apr 3—
Garlic—Feb 21 to Mar 7Oct 29 to Nov 12
OnionsDec 13 to Jan 24Mar 7 to 21—
CucumbersMar 27 to Apr 10Apr 24 to May 8—
PumpkinsMar 27 to Apr 10Apr 24 to May 8—
PeppersFeb 6 to Mar 6Apr 24 to May 8—
Carrots—Mar 14 to Apr 4Aug 6 to 27
Sweet Potatoes—May 10 to 17—
WatermelonsMar 20 to Apr 3Apr 24 to May 8—
Sweet Corn—Apr 4 to 18—
Green Beans—Apr 24 to May 8—
ZucchiniMar 27 to Apr 10Apr 24 to May 8—
BroccoliJan 17 to Feb 7Mar 7 to 21Aug 13 to Sep 10
Peas—Feb 21 to Mar 7Aug 6 to 20
SpinachFeb 21 to 28Mar 28 to Apr 11Aug 20 to Sep 24
Sunflowers—Apr 4 to 25—
ZinniasApr 29 to May 6May 27 to Jun 10—
Tulips——Sep 17 to Nov 12
Daffodils——Sep 17 to Oct 29
Grass Seed—Feb 21 to Mar 7Sep 17 to Oct 1

Nearby cities

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.