Terre Haute, Indiana planting calendar and frost dates
Terre Haute is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 16 and the first fall frost around October 18, giving about 183 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 16
- Typical first frost
- October 18
- Frost-free season
- 183 days
Frost dates in Terre Haute
Last spring frost
- April 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 3Safe: 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 183 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 October 29.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Terre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport, 1 miles S 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 Terre Haute
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: 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
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Terre Haute
Terre Haute's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 15 in 47804 to April 16 in 47805. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47802 | 6a | Terre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport, 8.9 mi NE | Apr 16 | Oct 18 |
| 47803 | 6a | Terre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport, 1 mi S | Apr 16 | Oct 18 |
| 47804 | 6a | Terre Haute Indiana State, 2.1 mi SSW | Apr 15 | Oct 19 |
| 47805 | 6a | Terre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport, 6.6 mi S | Apr 16 | Oct 18 |
| 47807 | 6a | Terre Haute Indiana State, 0.3 mi WSW | Apr 15 | Oct 19 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Terre Haute
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 9 to 23 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 9 to 23 | Jul 19 to Aug 23 |
| Cilantro | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Mar 16 to 30 | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 5 to 12 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Oct 18 to Nov 1 |
| Onions | Dec 25 to Feb 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 16 to Mar 16 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 26 to Apr 16 | Jul 26 to Aug 16 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 29 to Feb 19 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 2 to 30 |
| Peas | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Spinach | Mar 5 to 12 | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 9 to Sep 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 16 to May 7 | — |
| Zinnias | May 7 to 14 | Jun 4 to 18 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 6 to Nov 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 6 to Oct 18 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Bloomington, IN zone 6b, last frost Apr 15
- Champaign, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Greenwood, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Indianapolis city, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 15
- Lafayette, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 26
- Carmel, IN zone 6a, last frost Apr 21
Planting in IndianaAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Terre Haute
Questions
When is the last frost in Terre Haute?
Around April 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Terre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 3.
What planting zone is Terre Haute 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 Terre Haute?
Start seeds indoors March 9 to 23 and set plants out May 4 to 18.
When is the first frost in Terre Haute?
Around October 18 in a typical year, and before October 4 about 1 year in 10.