When to plant in Lafayette, IN
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Lafayette, Indiana — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6a, Lafayette gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
LAFAYETTE PURDUE UNIV AP · 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 Lafayette’s own odds, recorded at LAFAYETTE PURDUE UNIV AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 22 | May 7 | Apr 22 | Sep 24 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 14 | Apr 26 | Apr 11 | Oct 4 | Oct 18 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F | May 1 | Apr 13 | Mar 30 | Oct 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 10 |
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 Lafayette, 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.
Lafayette planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lafayette, IN?
Lafayette's average last spring frost falls near April 26 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Lafayette, IN?
Expect Lafayette's first fall frost near October 18 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Lafayette in?
Lafayette 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 Lafayette?
Lafayette has about 175 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 18).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lafayette?
For Lafayette, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lafayette
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lafayette’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- West Lafayette · 7 km
- Frankfort · 31 km
- Crawfordsville · 40 km
- Lebanon · 53 km
- Logansport · 58 km
- Kokomo · 63 km
- Whitestown · 63 km
- Zionsville · 65 km
Frost dates recorded at LAFAYETTE PURDUE UNIV AP, 6 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 Lafayette, IN — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014835. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/indiana/lafayette.