When to plant in West Lafayette, IN
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in West Lafayette, Indiana — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6a means West Lafayette sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
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 West 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 West Lafayette, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
West Lafayette planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in West Lafayette, IN?
West 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 West Lafayette, IN?
In West Lafayette, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 18 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is West Lafayette in?
West 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 West Lafayette?
There are roughly 175 frost-free days in West Lafayette (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 26 to the first fall frost near October 18.
When should I plant tomatoes in West Lafayette?
In West Lafayette, start tomato seeds indoors around March 1–March 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 3 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in West Lafayette
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to West Lafayette’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lafayette · 7 km
- Frankfort · 37 km
- Crawfordsville · 45 km
- Logansport · 59 km
- Lebanon · 60 km
- Danville · 67 km
- Kokomo · 67 km
- Whitestown · 70 km
Frost dates recorded at LAFAYETTE PURDUE UNIV AP, 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 West Lafayette, IN — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014835. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/indiana/west-lafayette.