Kokomo, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Kokomo is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 27 and the first fall frost around October 18, giving about 174 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 27
- Typical first frost
- October 18
- Frost-free season
- 174 days
Frost dates in Kokomo
Last spring frost
- April 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 4Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 18Typical: 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 174 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 15 and returns around October 29.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kokomo 3 Wsw, 4.5 miles WNW 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 Kokomo
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, 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, cantaloupes, celery, 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, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, 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, 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, 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
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 Kokomo
All 2 of Kokomo's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Kokomo 3 Wsw, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Kokomo
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 16 to 30 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Jul 19 to Aug 23 |
| Cilantro | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Oct 18 to Nov 1 |
| Onions | Jan 5 to Feb 16 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | — |
| 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 6 to 27 | Jul 26 to Aug 16 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 28 to Jun 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 9 to Mar 2 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 2 to 30 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Spinach | Mar 16 to 23 | Apr 20 to May 4 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 27 to May 18 | — |
| Zinnias | May 17 to 24 | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 6 to Nov 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 6 to Oct 18 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 16 to 30 | Sep 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Westfield, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Noblesville, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Carmel, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Anderson, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
- Fishers, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Lafayette, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Kokomo
Questions
When is the last frost in Kokomo?
Around April 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Kokomo 3 Wsw. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 13.
What planting zone is Kokomo 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 Kokomo?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26; the safest date to plant out is after May 13.
When is the first frost in Kokomo?
Around October 18 in a typical year, and before October 4 about 1 year in 10.