Lafayette, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Lafayette is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 26 and the first fall frost around October 18, giving about 173 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 26
- Typical first frost
- October 18
- Frost-free season
- 173 days
Frost dates in Lafayette
Last spring frost
- April 11Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 26Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 14Safe: 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
- October 31Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 173 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 13 and returns around October 28.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lafayette Purdue Univ Airport, 9.1 miles W 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 Lafayette
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, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, 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, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, 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 Lafayette
Lafayette's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 20 in 47909 to April 26 in 47905. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lafayette
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 15 to 29 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Jul 19 to Aug 23 |
| Cilantro | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Oct 18 to Nov 1 |
| Onions | Jan 4 to Feb 15 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | — |
| 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 5 to 26 | Jul 26 to Aug 16 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Aug 2 to 30 |
| Peas | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Spinach | Mar 15 to 22 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 26 to May 17 | — |
| Zinnias | May 15 to 22 | Jun 12 to 26 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 6 to Nov 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 6 to Oct 18 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 15 to 29 | Sep 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Kokomo, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
- Westfield, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Carmel, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Noblesville, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Fishers, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Indianapolis city, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Lafayette
Questions
When is the last frost in Lafayette?
Around April 26 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lafayette Purdue Univ Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 14.
What planting zone is Lafayette 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 Lafayette?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26; the safest date to plant out is after May 14.
When is the first frost in Lafayette?
Around October 18 in a typical year, and before October 4 about 1 year in 10.