When to plant pumpkins in Indiana

Pumpkins
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Indianapolis
May 4–May 18
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 9
Last frost, Indianapolis
Apr 20

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.

Pumpkins 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
IndianapolisMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
Fort WayneMay 8 to May 22Apr 24
EvansvilleApr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
CarmelMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
FishersMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
South BendMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
BloomingtonApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
NoblesvilleMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
HammondMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
LafayetteMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
GreenwoodMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
GaryMay 6 to May 20Apr 22
WestfieldMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
MuncieApr 30 to May 14Apr 16
KokomoMay 11 to May 25Apr 27
Terre HauteApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
AndersonMay 3 to May 17Apr 19
JeffersonvilleApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
ElkhartMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
ColumbusApr 25 to May 9Apr 11
MishawakaMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
LawrenceMay 2 to May 16Apr 18
West LafayetteMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
PortageMay 6 to May 20Apr 22
PlainfieldApr 26 to May 10Apr 12
New AlbanyApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
MerrillvilleMay 6 to May 20Apr 22
Crown PointMay 13 to May 27Apr 29
RichmondMay 8 to May 22Apr 24
ValparaisoMay 6 to May 20Apr 22
GoshenMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
BrownsburgApr 26 to May 10Apr 12
ZionsvilleMay 5 to May 19Apr 21
Michigan CityMay 3 to May 17Apr 19
GrangerMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
ScherervilleMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
HobartMay 6 to May 20Apr 22
MarionMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
FranklinMay 4 to May 18Apr 20
GreenfieldMay 3 to May 17Apr 19
East ChicagoMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
AvonApr 26 to May 10Apr 12
St. JohnMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
MunsterMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
HighlandMay 7 to May 21Apr 23
La PorteMay 3 to May 17Apr 19
SeymourApr 30 to May 14Apr 16
ClarksvilleApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 31
ShelbyvilleMay 1 to May 15Apr 17

Questions

When should I plant pumpkins in Indiana?

In Indianapolis, sow outdoors 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?

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

More for Indiana

Pumpkins in other states

Frost dates for every city in Indiana