When to plant in Indianapolis, IN
USDA Zone 6bIndianapolis, Indiana frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 6b means Indianapolis sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
INDIANAPOLIS SE SIDE · 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 Indianapolis’s own odds, recorded at INDIANAPOLIS SE SIDE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Sep 27 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 5 | Apr 20 | Apr 6 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 7 | Mar 25 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
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 Indianapolis, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 14 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.
Indianapolis planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Indianapolis, IN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Indianapolis around April 20 (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 Indianapolis, IN?
The first fall frost in Indianapolis typically arrives around October 21 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Indianapolis in?
Indianapolis is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Indianapolis?
There are roughly 184 frost-free days in Indianapolis (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 20 to the first fall frost near October 21.
When should I plant tomatoes in Indianapolis?
In Indianapolis, start tomato seeds indoors around February 23–March 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Indianapolis
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Indianapolis’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Beech Grove · 8 km
- Speedway · 9 km
- Lawrence · 17 km
- Greenwood · 20 km
- Carmel · 21 km
- Avon · 21 km
- Brownsburg · 21 km
- Plainfield · 22 km
Frost dates recorded at INDIANAPOLIS SE SIDE, 9 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 Indianapolis, IN — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00124272. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/indiana/indianapolis.