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
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 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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Muncie
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 8 to 22 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 9 to 23 | Jul 26 to Aug 30 |
| Cilantro | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Mar 15 to 29 | May 3 to 10 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Oct 25 to Nov 8 |
| Onions | Dec 25 to Feb 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 5 to 19 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 5 to 19 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 15 to Mar 15 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 26 to Apr 16 | Aug 2 to 23 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 5 to 19 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 29 to Feb 19 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 9 to Sep 6 |
| Peas | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Spinach | Mar 5 to 12 | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 16 to Sep 20 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 16 to May 7 | — |
| Zinnias | May 6 to 13 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 13 to Nov 8 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 13 to Oct 25 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 13 to 27 |
Nearby cities
- Anderson, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
- Noblesville, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Fishers, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Lawrence, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Westfield, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
- Kokomo, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 27
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.