South Bend, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
South Bend is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 1 and the first fall frost around October 19, giving about 170 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- May 1
- Typical first frost
- October 19
- Frost-free season
- 170 days
Frost dates in South Bend
Last spring frost
- April 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 19Typical: 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 170 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 19 and returns around October 31.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 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 South Bend
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, 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: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, 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, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, 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 South Bend
All 8 of South Bend's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46601 | 6a | South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 mi WNW | May 1 | Oct 19 |
| 46613 | 6a | South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 mi WNW | May 1 | Oct 19 |
| 46614 | 6a | South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 mi WNW | May 1 | Oct 19 |
| 46615 | 6a | South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 mi WNW | May 1 | Oct 19 |
| 46616 | 6a | South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 mi WNW | May 1 | Oct 19 |
| 46617 | 6a | South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 mi WNW | May 1 | Oct 19 |
| 46619 | 6a | South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 mi WNW | May 1 | Oct 19 |
| 46628 | 6a | South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport, 3.8 mi WNW | May 1 | Oct 19 |
South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport also supplies the frost dates for Mishawaka, so their planting calendars match South Bend's.
Planting dates for popular crops in South Bend
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Jul 20 to Aug 24 |
| Cilantro | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
| Onions | Jan 9 to Feb 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 3 to 31 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | Jul 27 to Aug 17 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 14 to 28 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 21 to May 5 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 13 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 3 to 31 |
| Peas | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 |
| Spinach | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Aug 10 to Sep 14 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | May 23 to 30 | Jun 20 to Jul 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 7 to Nov 2 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 7 to Oct 19 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Sep 7 to 21 |
Nearby cities
- Mishawaka, IN zone 6a, last frost May 1
- Elkhart, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Kalamazoo, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 28
- Gary, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 22
- Hammond, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 23
- Battle Creek, MI zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for South Bend
Questions
When is the last frost in South Bend?
Around May 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 17.
What planting zone is South Bend 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 South Bend?
Start seeds indoors March 24 to April 7 and set plants out May 19 to June 2.
When is the first frost in South Bend?
Around October 19 in a typical year, and before October 5 about 1 year in 10.