Hammond, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Hammond is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 23 and the first fall frost around October 20, giving about 179 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 23
- Typical first frost
- October 20
- Frost-free season
- 179 days
Frost dates in Hammond
Last spring frost
- April 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 6Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 20Typical: 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 179 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 October 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Park Forest, 13.4 miles WSW of the city center and 106 feet higher. 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 Hammond
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, 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: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, 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, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, 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 Hammond
Hammond's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 11 in 46327 to April 23 in 46324. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46320 | 6a | Park Forest, 12.3 mi SW | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 46323 | 6a | Park Forest, 13.4 mi WSW | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 46324 | 6a | Park Forest, 11.1 mi WSW | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| 46327 | 6a | Chicago Midway Airport, 16.1 mi NW | Apr 11 | Oct 31 |
| 46394 | 6a | Chicago Midway Airport, 14.9 mi WNW | Apr 11 | Oct 31 |
Park Forest also supplies the frost dates for Tinley Park, so their planting calendars match Hammond's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Hammond
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 16 to 30 | Jul 21 to Aug 25 |
| Cilantro | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Mar 28 to Apr 11 | May 16 to 23 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
| Onions | Jan 1 to Feb 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 28 to Mar 28 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 2 to 23 | Jul 28 to Aug 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 11 to 25 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 5 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Peas | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Spinach | Mar 12 to 19 | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 23 to May 14 | — |
| Zinnias | May 20 to 27 | Jun 17 to Jul 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 8 to Nov 3 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 8 to Oct 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 8 to 22 |
Nearby cities
- Gary, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 22
- 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 Hammond
Questions
When is the last frost in Hammond?
Around April 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Park Forest. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 11.
What planting zone is Hammond 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 Hammond?
Start seeds indoors March 21 to April 4 and set plants out May 16 to 30.
When is the first frost in Hammond?
Around October 20 in a typical year, and before October 6 about 1 year in 10.