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Gary, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates

Gary is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 22 and the first fall frost around October 27, giving about 188 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a
Typical last frost
April 22
Typical first frost
October 27
Frost-free season
188 days

Frost dates in Gary

Last spring frost

  • April 7Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 22Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 8Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 9Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 188 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 8 and returns around November 7.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Indiana Dunes Nl, 16.7 miles E 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 Gary

  1. January

    Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

  2. February

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons

  3. March

    Start indoors: 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

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, 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, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips

  5. May

    Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  7. July

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

    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, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, 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 Gary

All 7 of Gary's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Indiana Dunes Nl, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
464026aIndiana Dunes Nl, 12.9 mi EApr 22Oct 27
464036aIndiana Dunes Nl, 8.9 mi EApr 22Oct 27
464046aIndiana Dunes Nl, 15.1 mi ENEApr 22Oct 27
464066aIndiana Dunes Nl, 16.7 mi EApr 22Oct 27
464076aIndiana Dunes Nl, 13.1 mi ENEApr 22Oct 27
464086aIndiana Dunes Nl, 15.7 mi ENEApr 22Oct 27
464096aIndiana Dunes Nl, 13.5 mi ENEApr 22Oct 27

Planting dates for popular crops in Gary

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 25 to Apr 8May 20 to Jun 3—
Strawberries—Mar 11 to 25—
LettuceFeb 25 to Mar 11Apr 15 to 29Jul 28 to Sep 1
CilantroMar 11 to 25Apr 22 to 29—
BasilApr 1 to 15May 20 to 27—
Potatoes—Apr 20 to 27—
Garlic—Mar 11 to 25Oct 27 to Nov 10
OnionsDec 31 to Feb 11Mar 25 to Apr 8—
CucumbersApr 22 to May 6May 20 to Jun 3—
PumpkinsApr 22 to May 6May 20 to Jun 3—
PeppersMar 4 to Apr 1May 20 to Jun 3—
Carrots—Apr 1 to 22Aug 4 to 25
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 4 to 11—
WatermelonsApr 15 to 29May 20 to Jun 3—
Sweet Corn—Apr 22 to May 6—
Green Beans—May 20 to Jun 3—
ZucchiniApr 22 to May 6May 20 to Jun 3—
BroccoliFeb 4 to 25Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 11 to Sep 8
Peas—Mar 11 to 25Aug 4 to 18
SpinachMar 11 to 18Apr 15 to 29Aug 18 to Sep 22
Sunflowers—Apr 22 to May 13—
ZinniasMay 23 to 30Jun 20 to Jul 4—
Tulips——Sep 15 to Nov 10
Daffodils——Sep 15 to Oct 27
Grass Seed—Mar 11 to 25Sep 15 to 29

Nearby cities

Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Gary

Questions

When is the last frost in Gary?

Around April 22 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Indiana Dunes Nl. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 8.

What planting zone is Gary 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 Gary?

Start seeds indoors March 25 to April 8 and set plants out May 20 to June 3.

When is the first frost in Gary?

Around October 27 in a typical year, and before October 15 about 1 year in 10.