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Muncie, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates

Muncie is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 16 and the first fall frost around October 25, giving about 190 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a
Typical last frost
April 16
Typical first frost
October 25
Frost-free season
190 days

Frost dates in Muncie

Last spring frost

  • April 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 2Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 9Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 25Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 6Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 190 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 3 and returns around November 5.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Muncie Delaware Co Airport, 3.5 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 Muncie

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

  12. December

    Start indoors: onions

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Muncie

All 4 of Muncie's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Muncie Delaware Co Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
473026aMuncie Delaware Co Airport, 7.3 mi NApr 16Oct 25
473036aMuncie Delaware Co Airport, 2.7 mi SSWApr 16Oct 25
473046aMuncie Delaware Co Airport, 3.5 mi EApr 16Oct 25
473056aMuncie Delaware Co Airport, 2.8 mi NApr 16Oct 25

Planting dates for popular crops in Muncie

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 8 to 22May 3 to 17—
Strawberries—Mar 5 to 19—
LettuceFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to 23Jul 26 to Aug 30
CilantroMar 5 to 19Apr 16 to 23—
BasilMar 15 to 29May 3 to 10—
Potatoes—Apr 7 to 14—
Garlic—Mar 5 to 19Oct 25 to Nov 8
OnionsDec 25 to Feb 5Mar 19 to Apr 2—
CucumbersApr 5 to 19May 3 to 17—
PumpkinsApr 5 to 19May 3 to 17—
PeppersFeb 15 to Mar 15May 3 to 17—
Carrots—Mar 26 to Apr 16Aug 2 to 23
Sweet Potatoes—May 18 to 25—
WatermelonsMar 29 to Apr 12May 3 to 17—
Sweet Corn—Apr 16 to 30—
Green Beans—May 3 to 17—
ZucchiniApr 5 to 19May 3 to 17—
BroccoliJan 29 to Feb 19Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 9 to Sep 6
Peas—Mar 5 to 19Aug 2 to 16
SpinachMar 5 to 12Apr 9 to 23Aug 16 to Sep 20
Sunflowers—Apr 16 to May 7—
ZinniasMay 6 to 13Jun 3 to 17—
Tulips——Sep 13 to Nov 8
Daffodils——Sep 13 to Oct 25
Grass Seed—Mar 5 to 19Sep 13 to 27

Nearby cities

Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Muncie

Questions

When is the last frost in Muncie?

Around April 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Muncie Delaware Co Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 2.

What planting zone is Muncie 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 Muncie?

Start seeds indoors March 8 to 22 and set plants out May 3 to 17.

When is the first frost in Muncie?

Around October 25 in a typical year, and before October 9 about 1 year in 10.