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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

  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: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, 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, 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

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, 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 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 codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
478026aTerre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport, 8.9 mi NEApr 16Oct 18
478036aTerre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport, 1 mi SApr 16Oct 18
478046aTerre Haute Indiana State, 2.1 mi SSWApr 15Oct 19
478056aTerre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport, 6.6 mi SApr 16Oct 18
478076aTerre Haute Indiana State, 0.3 mi WSWApr 15Oct 19

Planting dates for popular crops in Terre Haute

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 9 to 23May 4 to 18—
Strawberries—Mar 5 to 19—
LettuceFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to 23Jul 19 to Aug 23
CilantroMar 5 to 19Apr 16 to 23—
BasilMar 16 to 30May 4 to 11—
Potatoes—Apr 5 to 12—
Garlic—Mar 5 to 19Oct 18 to Nov 1
OnionsDec 25 to Feb 5Mar 19 to Apr 2—
CucumbersApr 6 to 20May 4 to 18—
PumpkinsApr 6 to 20May 4 to 18—
PeppersFeb 16 to Mar 16May 4 to 18—
Carrots—Mar 26 to Apr 16Jul 26 to Aug 16
Sweet Potatoes—May 20 to 27—
WatermelonsMar 30 to Apr 13May 4 to 18—
Sweet Corn—Apr 16 to 30—
Green Beans—May 4 to 18—
ZucchiniApr 6 to 20May 4 to 18—
BroccoliJan 29 to Feb 19Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 2 to 30
Peas—Mar 5 to 19Jul 26 to Aug 9
SpinachMar 5 to 12Apr 9 to 23Aug 9 to Sep 13
Sunflowers—Apr 16 to May 7—
ZinniasMay 7 to 14Jun 4 to 18—
Tulips——Sep 6 to Nov 1
Daffodils——Sep 6 to Oct 18
Grass Seed—Mar 5 to 19Sep 6 to 20

Nearby cities

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.