When to plant potatoes in Indiana

Potatoes
Sow outdoors in Indianapolis
Mar 23–Apr 6

Across Indiana the window opens between March 1 and April 1. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Indianapolis
Mar 23–Apr 6
Last frost, Indianapolis
Apr 20

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed potatoes once the soil reaches about 45°F. Shoots that come up before the last frost can be covered with soil.

Potatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
IndianapolisMar 23–Apr 6
Fort WayneMar 27–Apr 10
EvansvilleMar 1–Mar 15
CarmelMar 24–Apr 7
FishersMar 24–Apr 7
South BendMar 26–Apr 9
BloomingtonMar 18–Apr 1
NoblesvilleMar 24–Apr 7
HammondMar 26–Apr 9
LafayetteMar 29–Apr 12
GreenwoodMar 23–Apr 6
GaryMar 25–Apr 8
WestfieldMar 24–Apr 7
MuncieMar 19–Apr 2
KokomoMar 30–Apr 13
Terre HauteMar 18–Apr 1
AndersonMar 22–Apr 5
JeffersonvilleMar 3–Mar 17
ElkhartMar 29–Apr 12
ColumbusMar 14–Mar 28
MishawakaMar 26–Apr 9
LawrenceMar 21–Apr 4
West LafayetteMar 29–Apr 12
PortageMar 25–Apr 8
PlainfieldMar 15–Mar 29
New AlbanyMar 3–Mar 17
MerrillvilleMar 25–Apr 8
Crown PointApr 1–Apr 15
RichmondMar 27–Apr 10
ValparaisoMar 25–Apr 8
All 49 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
IndianapolisMar 23 to Apr 6Apr 20
Fort WayneMar 27 to Apr 10Apr 24
EvansvilleMar 1 to Mar 15Mar 29
CarmelMar 24 to Apr 7Apr 21
FishersMar 24 to Apr 7Apr 21
South BendMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
BloomingtonMar 18 to Apr 1Apr 15
NoblesvilleMar 24 to Apr 7Apr 21
HammondMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
LafayetteMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
GreenwoodMar 23 to Apr 6Apr 20
GaryMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22
WestfieldMar 24 to Apr 7Apr 21
MuncieMar 19 to Apr 2Apr 16
KokomoMar 30 to Apr 13Apr 27
Terre HauteMar 18 to Apr 1Apr 15
AndersonMar 22 to Apr 5Apr 19
JeffersonvilleMar 3 to Mar 17Mar 31
ElkhartMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
ColumbusMar 14 to Mar 28Apr 11
MishawakaMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
LawrenceMar 21 to Apr 4Apr 18
West LafayetteMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
PortageMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22
PlainfieldMar 15 to Mar 29Apr 12
New AlbanyMar 3 to Mar 17Mar 31
MerrillvilleMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22
Crown PointApr 1 to Apr 15Apr 29
RichmondMar 27 to Apr 10Apr 24
ValparaisoMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22
GoshenMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
BrownsburgMar 15 to Mar 29Apr 12
ZionsvilleMar 24 to Apr 7Apr 21
Michigan CityMar 22 to Apr 5Apr 19
GrangerMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
ScherervilleMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
HobartMar 25 to Apr 8Apr 22
MarionMar 29 to Apr 12Apr 26
FranklinMar 23 to Apr 6Apr 20
GreenfieldMar 22 to Apr 5Apr 19
East ChicagoMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
AvonMar 15 to Mar 29Apr 12
St. JohnMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
MunsterMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
HighlandMar 26 to Apr 9Apr 23
La PorteMar 22 to Apr 5Apr 19
SeymourMar 19 to Apr 2Apr 16
ClarksvilleMar 3 to Mar 17Mar 31
ShelbyvilleMar 20 to Apr 3Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant potatoes in Indiana?

In Indianapolis, sow outdoors from March 23 to April 6. Across Indiana the window opens between March 1 and April 1, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Indiana

Potatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Indiana