When to plant onions in Indiana

Onions
Plant out in Indianapolis
Mar 9–Mar 30

Across Indiana the window opens between February 15 and March 18. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Indianapolis
Jan 26–Feb 23
Plant out, Indianapolis
Mar 9–Mar 30
Last frost, Indianapolis
Apr 20

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Northern gardens need long-day varieties and southern gardens need short-day ones. A wrong pick gives small bulbs.

Onions planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
IndianapolisMar 9–Mar 30
Fort WayneMar 13–Apr 3
EvansvilleFeb 15–Mar 8
CarmelMar 10–Mar 31
FishersMar 10–Mar 31
South BendMar 12–Apr 2
BloomingtonMar 4–Mar 25
NoblesvilleMar 10–Mar 31
HammondMar 12–Apr 2
LafayetteMar 15–Apr 5
GreenwoodMar 9–Mar 30
GaryMar 11–Apr 1
WestfieldMar 10–Mar 31
MuncieMar 5–Mar 26
KokomoMar 16–Apr 6
Terre HauteMar 4–Mar 25
AndersonMar 8–Mar 29
JeffersonvilleFeb 17–Mar 10
ElkhartMar 15–Apr 5
ColumbusFeb 28–Mar 21
MishawakaMar 12–Apr 2
LawrenceMar 7–Mar 28
West LafayetteMar 15–Apr 5
PortageMar 11–Apr 1
PlainfieldMar 1–Mar 22
New AlbanyFeb 17–Mar 10
MerrillvilleMar 11–Apr 1
Crown PointMar 18–Apr 8
RichmondMar 13–Apr 3
ValparaisoMar 11–Apr 1
All 49 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
IndianapolisJan 26 to Feb 23Mar 9 to Mar 30Apr 20
Fort WayneJan 30 to Feb 27Mar 13 to Apr 3Apr 24
EvansvilleJan 4 to Feb 1Feb 15 to Mar 8Mar 29
CarmelJan 27 to Feb 24Mar 10 to Mar 31Apr 21
FishersJan 27 to Feb 24Mar 10 to Mar 31Apr 21
South BendJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
BloomingtonJan 21 to Feb 18Mar 4 to Mar 25Apr 15
NoblesvilleJan 27 to Feb 24Mar 10 to Mar 31Apr 21
HammondJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
LafayetteFeb 1 to Mar 1Mar 15 to Apr 5Apr 26
GreenwoodJan 26 to Feb 23Mar 9 to Mar 30Apr 20
GaryJan 28 to Feb 25Mar 11 to Apr 1Apr 22
WestfieldJan 27 to Feb 24Mar 10 to Mar 31Apr 21
MuncieJan 22 to Feb 19Mar 5 to Mar 26Apr 16
KokomoFeb 2 to Mar 2Mar 16 to Apr 6Apr 27
Terre HauteJan 21 to Feb 18Mar 4 to Mar 25Apr 15
AndersonJan 25 to Feb 22Mar 8 to Mar 29Apr 19
JeffersonvilleJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
ElkhartFeb 1 to Mar 1Mar 15 to Apr 5Apr 26
ColumbusJan 17 to Feb 14Feb 28 to Mar 21Apr 11
MishawakaJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
LawrenceJan 24 to Feb 21Mar 7 to Mar 28Apr 18
West LafayetteFeb 1 to Mar 1Mar 15 to Apr 5Apr 26
PortageJan 28 to Feb 25Mar 11 to Apr 1Apr 22
PlainfieldJan 18 to Feb 15Mar 1 to Mar 22Apr 12
New AlbanyJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
MerrillvilleJan 28 to Feb 25Mar 11 to Apr 1Apr 22
Crown PointFeb 4 to Mar 4Mar 18 to Apr 8Apr 29
RichmondJan 30 to Feb 27Mar 13 to Apr 3Apr 24
ValparaisoJan 28 to Feb 25Mar 11 to Apr 1Apr 22
GoshenFeb 1 to Mar 1Mar 15 to Apr 5Apr 26
BrownsburgJan 18 to Feb 15Mar 1 to Mar 22Apr 12
ZionsvilleJan 27 to Feb 24Mar 10 to Mar 31Apr 21
Michigan CityJan 25 to Feb 22Mar 8 to Mar 29Apr 19
GrangerJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
ScherervilleJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
HobartJan 28 to Feb 25Mar 11 to Apr 1Apr 22
MarionFeb 1 to Mar 1Mar 15 to Apr 5Apr 26
FranklinJan 26 to Feb 23Mar 9 to Mar 30Apr 20
GreenfieldJan 25 to Feb 22Mar 8 to Mar 29Apr 19
East ChicagoJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
AvonJan 18 to Feb 15Mar 1 to Mar 22Apr 12
St. JohnJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
MunsterJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
HighlandJan 29 to Feb 26Mar 12 to Apr 2Apr 23
La PorteJan 25 to Feb 22Mar 8 to Mar 29Apr 19
SeymourJan 22 to Feb 19Mar 5 to Mar 26Apr 16
ClarksvilleJan 6 to Feb 3Feb 17 to Mar 10Mar 31
ShelbyvilleJan 23 to Feb 20Mar 6 to Mar 27Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant onions in Indiana?

In Indianapolis, plant out from March 9 to March 30. Across Indiana the window opens between February 15 and March 18, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Indiana

Onions in other states

Frost dates for every city in Indiana