When to plant in Chesterton, IN
USDA Zone 6aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Chesterton, Indiana — all computed from Chesterton's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 6a means Chesterton sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
INDIANA DUNES NL · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Chesterton’s own odds, recorded at INDIANA DUNES NL.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 21 | May 4 | Apr 20 | Oct 4 | Oct 16 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | May 8 | Apr 22 | Apr 7 | Oct 15 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 8 | Mar 26 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 25 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Chesterton, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 17 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Chesterton planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Chesterton, IN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Chesterton around April 22 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Chesterton, IN?
In Chesterton, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 27 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Chesterton in?
Chesterton is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Chesterton?
There are roughly 188 frost-free days in Chesterton (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 22 to the first fall frost near October 27.
When should I plant tomatoes in Chesterton?
In Chesterton, start tomato seeds indoors around February 25–March 11, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 29 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Chesterton
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Chesterton’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Portage · 10 km
- Valparaiso · 13 km
- Lake Station · 17 km
- Michigan City · 20 km
- Hobart · 21 km
- Gary · 24 km
- Merrillville · 26 km
- La Porte · 28 km
Frost dates recorded at INDIANA DUNES NL, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Chesterton, IN — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00124244. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/indiana/chesterton.