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When to plant in Washington, IN

USDA Zone 6b

Washington, Indiana frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.

In zone 6b, Washington gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · WASHINGTON 1 W · 3.5 km
Last spring frost
April 10
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 25
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
198 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for WashingtonA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Washington: last spring frost around April 10, first fall frost around October 25, about 198 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

WASHINGTON 1 W · 1991–2020

The 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 Washington’s own odds, recorded at WASHINGTON 1 W.

Frost-probability curves for WashingtonProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 10 and the first fall frost around October 25, giving about 198 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 8Apr 22Apr 8Oct 1Oct 15Oct 28
32°FApr 27Apr 10Mar 27Oct 11Oct 25Nov 7
28°FApr 15Mar 30Mar 14Oct 22Nov 4Nov 20

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Brussels Sprouts
July 5July 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 19August 2
Fall sowin 14 days
Broccoli
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 14 days
Cabbage
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 14 days
Carrot
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 14 days
Cauliflower
August 2August 16
Fall sowin 14 days
Napa Cabbage
August 2August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Beet
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Collards
August 16September 13
Fall sowin 28 days
Endive
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Escarole
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Kale
August 16September 13
Fall sowin 28 days
Kohlrabi
August 16September 13
Fall sowin 28 days
Peas
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Radicchio
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Swiss Chard
August 16August 30
Fall sowin 28 days
Turnip
August 16September 13

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Washington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 24 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

WASHINGTON 1 W
Primary
4 km · 147 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 10
FALL
Oct 25
PETERSBURG 61 BRG
23 km · 144 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 20
FALL
Oct 22
ELNORA
24 km · 146 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 9
FALL
Oct 25

Washington planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Washington, IN?

On average, the last spring frost in Washington is around April 10 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Washington, IN?

Expect Washington's first fall frost near October 25 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Washington in?

Washington 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 Washington?

Washington has about 198 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 10) and first fall frost (October 25).

When should I plant tomatoes in Washington?

For Washington, sow tomatoes indoors about February 13–February 27 and move the seedlings out around April 17, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Washington

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Washington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at WASHINGTON 1 W, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Washington, IN — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00129253. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/indiana/washington.