Fort Wayne, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Fort Wayne is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 21, giving about 178 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 24
- Typical first frost
- October 21
- Frost-free season
- 178 days
Frost dates in Fort Wayne
Last spring frost
- April 10Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 8Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 178 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 12 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 miles SSW 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 Fort Wayne
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, 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, 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: 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 Fort Wayne
All 12 of Fort Wayne's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Ft Wayne International Airport, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46802 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46803 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46804 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46805 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46806 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46808 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46809 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46815 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46816 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46818 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46825 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
| 46835 | 6a | Ft Wayne International Airport, 11.8 mi SSW | Apr 24 | Oct 21 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Fort Wayne
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Jul 22 to Aug 26 |
| Cilantro | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Onions | Jan 2 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| 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 | — | Apr 3 to 24 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 28 to Jun 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 5 to Sep 2 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Spinach | Mar 13 to 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 24 to May 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 16 to 23 | Jun 13 to 27 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 9 to Nov 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 9 to Oct 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Elkhart, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Muncie, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Kokomo, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
- Mishawaka, IN zone 6a, last frost May 1
- South Bend, IN zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Anderson, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Fort Wayne
Questions
When is the last frost in Fort Wayne?
Around April 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Ft Wayne International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 10.
What planting zone is Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Fort Wayne?
Around October 21 in a typical year, and before October 8 about 1 year in 10.