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
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
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
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
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
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
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
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, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
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 code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46402 | 6a | Indiana Dunes Nl, 12.9 mi E | Apr 22 | Oct 27 |
| 46403 | 6a | Indiana Dunes Nl, 8.9 mi E | Apr 22 | Oct 27 |
| 46404 | 6a | Indiana Dunes Nl, 15.1 mi ENE | Apr 22 | Oct 27 |
| 46406 | 6a | Indiana Dunes Nl, 16.7 mi E | Apr 22 | Oct 27 |
| 46407 | 6a | Indiana Dunes Nl, 13.1 mi ENE | Apr 22 | Oct 27 |
| 46408 | 6a | Indiana Dunes Nl, 15.7 mi ENE | Apr 22 | Oct 27 |
| 46409 | 6a | Indiana Dunes Nl, 13.5 mi ENE | Apr 22 | Oct 27 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Gary
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 15 to 29 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Cilantro | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Basil | Apr 1 to 15 | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 11 to 25 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Onions | Dec 31 to Feb 11 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 4 to Apr 1 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 1 to 22 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 15 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 4 to 25 | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Peas | — | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Mar 11 to 18 | Apr 15 to 29 | Aug 18 to Sep 22 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 22 to May 13 | — |
| Zinnias | May 23 to 30 | Jun 20 to Jul 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 15 to Nov 10 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 15 to Oct 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 15 to 29 |
Nearby cities
- Hammond, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 23
- Oak Lawn, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 10
- Tinley Park, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 23
- Chicago, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
- Orland Park, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 10
- Cicero, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 11
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.