When to plant eggplant in Indiana

Plant out in Indianapolis

May 4–May 18

Across Indiana the window opens between April 12 and May 13. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Indianapolis: Feb 9–Feb 23
Plant out, Indianapolis: May 4–May 18
Last sowing for a harvest: Jul 14
Last frost, Indianapolis: Apr 20

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Eggplant sulks in cool weather. Black plastic mulch warms the soil.

Eggplant planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

IndianapolisMay 4–May 18

Fort WayneMay 8–May 22

EvansvilleApr 12–Apr 26

CarmelMay 5–May 19

FishersMay 5–May 19

South BendMay 7–May 21

BloomingtonApr 29–May 13

NoblesvilleMay 5–May 19

HammondMay 7–May 21

LafayetteMay 10–May 24

GreenwoodMay 4–May 18

GaryMay 6–May 20

WestfieldMay 5–May 19

MuncieApr 30–May 14

KokomoMay 11–May 25

Terre HauteApr 29–May 13

AndersonMay 3–May 17

JeffersonvilleApr 14–Apr 28

ElkhartMay 10–May 24

ColumbusApr 25–May 9

MishawakaMay 7–May 21

LawrenceMay 2–May 16

West LafayetteMay 10–May 24

PortageMay 6–May 20

PlainfieldApr 26–May 10

New AlbanyApr 14–Apr 28

MerrillvilleMay 6–May 20

Crown PointMay 13–May 27

RichmondMay 8–May 22

ValparaisoMay 6–May 20

All 49 cities

City	Start indoors	Plant out	Last frost
Indianapolis	Feb 9 to Feb 23	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Fort Wayne	Feb 13 to Feb 27	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Evansville	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Apr 12 to Apr 26	Mar 29
Carmel	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Fishers	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
South Bend	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Bloomington	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Noblesville	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Hammond	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Lafayette	Feb 15 to Mar 1	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Greenwood	Feb 9 to Feb 23	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Gary	Feb 11 to Feb 25	May 6 to May 20	Apr 22
Westfield	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Muncie	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Kokomo	Feb 16 to Mar 2	May 11 to May 25	Apr 27
Terre Haute	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Apr 29 to May 13	Apr 15
Anderson	Feb 8 to Feb 22	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Jeffersonville	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Elkhart	Feb 15 to Mar 1	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Columbus	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Apr 25 to May 9	Apr 11
Mishawaka	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Lawrence	Feb 7 to Feb 21	May 2 to May 16	Apr 18
West Lafayette	Feb 15 to Mar 1	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Portage	Feb 11 to Feb 25	May 6 to May 20	Apr 22
Plainfield	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
New Albany	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Merrillville	Feb 11 to Feb 25	May 6 to May 20	Apr 22
Crown Point	Feb 18 to Mar 4	May 13 to May 27	Apr 29
Richmond	Feb 13 to Feb 27	May 8 to May 22	Apr 24
Valparaiso	Feb 11 to Feb 25	May 6 to May 20	Apr 22
Goshen	Feb 15 to Mar 1	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Brownsburg	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
Zionsville	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 19	Apr 21
Michigan City	Feb 8 to Feb 22	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Granger	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Schererville	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Hobart	Feb 11 to Feb 25	May 6 to May 20	Apr 22
Marion	Feb 15 to Mar 1	May 10 to May 24	Apr 26
Franklin	Feb 9 to Feb 23	May 4 to May 18	Apr 20
Greenfield	Feb 8 to Feb 22	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
East Chicago	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Avon	Feb 1 to Feb 15	Apr 26 to May 10	Apr 12
St. John	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Munster	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
Highland	Feb 12 to Feb 26	May 7 to May 21	Apr 23
La Porte	Feb 8 to Feb 22	May 3 to May 17	Apr 19
Seymour	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Apr 30 to May 14	Apr 16
Clarksville	Jan 20 to Feb 3	Apr 14 to Apr 28	Mar 31
Shelbyville	Feb 6 to Feb 20	May 1 to May 15	Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant eggplant in Indiana?

In Indianapolis, plant out from May 4 to May 18. Across Indiana the window opens between April 12 and May 13, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Indiana

Eggplant in other states

Frost dates for every city in Indiana