Frost dates & planting calendar for Indianapolis, IN
Frost dates
Apr 20
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: May 5. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Oct 21
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 7. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
183
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
6b
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: −5 to 0°F (−20.6 to −17.8°C).
Zone for ZIP 46204, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 6b means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 183 days. Station: Indianapolis SE Side, IN, 10 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not this season. Start tomato seeds indoors from Mar 10 to Mar 24, then plant them out from May 5 to May 19.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (May 5 in spring, Oct 7 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
March
The next window opens in March.
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Transplant outdoors
- May 5 – May 19
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Transplant outdoors
- May 5 – May 19
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 7 – May 5
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Sow for fall
- Jul 15 – Jul 29
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 7 – May 5
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Sow for fall
- Jul 15 – Jul 29
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 21 – May 5
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – May 5
- Sow for fall
- Jul 15 – Jul 29
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
- Sow for fall
- Jul 15 – Jul 29
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 10
- Transplant outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 28 – May 5
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 10
- Start indoors
- Mar 10 – Mar 24
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 24
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 24 – Apr 21
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 24
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 24 – Apr 21
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 24
- Start indoors
- Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 24
- Start indoors
- Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 24
- Start indoors
- Mar 24 – Apr 7
April
The next window opens in April.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Apr 7
- Start indoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 12
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 7
- Start indoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 12
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 7
- Start indoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 19
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Apr 7
- Start indoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Transplant outdoors
- May 12 – May 19
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 19
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Apr 7
- Start indoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 19
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
- Sow for fall
- Jul 15 – Jul 29
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – May 5
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 7 – Apr 21
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
- Sow for fall
- Jul 15 – Jul 29
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 14 – Apr 14
- Sow for fall
- Jul 15 – Jul 29
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – May 5
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – May 5
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – May 5
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – May 5
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 21 – Apr 28
May
The next window opens in May.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 5
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 5
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from May 5
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from May 5
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from May 5
- Transplant outdoors
- May 5 – May 5
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from May 12
- Sow outdoors
- May 12 – May 19
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 19
- Sow outdoors
- May 19 – May 19
August
The next window opens in August.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Aug 26
- Sow for fall
- Aug 26 – Aug 26
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Indianapolis?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Indianapolis is Apr 20. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after May 5.
- When is the first frost in Indianapolis?
- The typical first fall frost is Oct 21. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 7.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Indianapolis?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Mar 10 and Mar 24, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Indianapolis in?
- Indianapolis is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 46204, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Louisville, KY 184 km
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