Indianapolis city, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Indianapolis city is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 15 and the first fall frost around October 26, giving about 193 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 15
- Typical first frost
- October 26
- Frost-free season
- 193 days
Frost dates in Indianapolis city
Last spring frost
- April 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 2Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 13Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 26Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 7Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 193 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 4 and returns around November 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Indianapolis, 8.6 miles SW 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 Indianapolis city
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, 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, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: 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, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, 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, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, 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, 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 Indianapolis city
All 13 of Indianapolis city's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Indianapolis, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6a in 46219, 46237, 46239, 46259, 46268, 46278, and 6b in 46203, 46217, 46220, 46221, 46227, 46241, 46254.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46203 | 6b | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46217 | 6b | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46219 | 6a | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46220 | 6b | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46221 | 6b | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46227 | 6b | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46237 | 6a | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46239 | 6a | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46241 | 6b | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46254 | 6b | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46259 | 6a | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46268 | 6a | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| 46278 | 6a | Indianapolis, 8.6 mi SW | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
Indianapolis also supplies the frost dates for Greenwood and Lawrence, so their planting calendars match Indianapolis city's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Indianapolis city
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 10 to 24 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 8 to 22 | Jul 27 to Aug 31 |
| Cilantro | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Mar 17 to 31 | May 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 6 to 13 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Oct 26 to Nov 9 |
| Onions | Dec 24 to Feb 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 17 to Mar 17 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 25 to Apr 15 | Aug 3 to 24 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Peas | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Aug 3 to 17 |
| Spinach | Mar 4 to 11 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 17 to Sep 21 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 15 to May 6 | — |
| Zinnias | May 9 to 16 | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 14 to Nov 9 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 14 to Oct 26 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Sep 14 to 28 |
Nearby cities
- Lawrence, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Greenwood, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Carmel, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Fishers, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Westfield, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Noblesville, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Indianapolis city
Questions
When is the last frost in Indianapolis city?
Around April 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Indianapolis. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 2.
What planting zone is Indianapolis city in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Indianapolis city?
Start seeds indoors March 10 to 24 and set plants out May 5 to 19.
When is the first frost in Indianapolis city?
Around October 26 in a typical year, and before October 13 about 1 year in 10.