When to plant tomatoes in Indiana
Plant out in Indianapolis
Apr 27–May 11
Across Indiana the window opens between April 5 and May 6. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Start indoors, Indianapolis
- Feb 23–Mar 9
- Plant out, Indianapolis
- Apr 27–May 11
- Last sowing for a harvest
- Jul 14
- Last frost, Indianapolis
- Apr 20
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.
Tomatoes planting dates by city
Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
IndianapolisApr 27–May 11
Fort WayneMay 1–May 15
EvansvilleApr 5–Apr 19
CarmelApr 28–May 12
FishersApr 28–May 12
South BendApr 30–May 14
BloomingtonApr 22–May 6
NoblesvilleApr 28–May 12
HammondApr 30–May 14
LafayetteMay 3–May 17
GreenwoodApr 27–May 11
GaryApr 29–May 13
WestfieldApr 28–May 12
MuncieApr 23–May 7
KokomoMay 4–May 18
Terre HauteApr 22–May 6
AndersonApr 26–May 10
JeffersonvilleApr 7–Apr 21
ElkhartMay 3–May 17
ColumbusApr 18–May 2
MishawakaApr 30–May 14
LawrenceApr 25–May 9
West LafayetteMay 3–May 17
PortageApr 29–May 13
PlainfieldApr 19–May 3
New AlbanyApr 7–Apr 21
MerrillvilleApr 29–May 13
Crown PointMay 6–May 20
RichmondMay 1–May 15
ValparaisoApr 29–May 13
All 49 cities
| City | Start indoors | Plant out | Last frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Fort Wayne | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | May 1 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| Evansville | Feb 1 to Feb 15 | Apr 5 to Apr 19 | Mar 29 |
| Carmel | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Fishers | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| South Bend | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Bloomington | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Apr 15 |
| Noblesville | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Hammond | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Lafayette | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Greenwood | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Gary | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 22 |
| Westfield | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Muncie | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Kokomo | Mar 2 to Mar 16 | May 4 to May 18 | Apr 27 |
| Terre Haute | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Apr 15 |
| Anderson | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Jeffersonville | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Elkhart | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Columbus | Feb 14 to Feb 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Apr 11 |
| Mishawaka | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Lawrence | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 25 to May 9 | Apr 18 |
| West Lafayette | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Portage | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 22 |
| Plainfield | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Apr 12 |
| New Albany | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Merrillville | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 22 |
| Crown Point | Mar 4 to Mar 18 | May 6 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Richmond | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | May 1 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| Valparaiso | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 22 |
| Goshen | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Brownsburg | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Apr 12 |
| Zionsville | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Michigan City | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Granger | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Schererville | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Hobart | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Apr 22 |
| Marion | Mar 1 to Mar 15 | May 3 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Franklin | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Greenfield | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| East Chicago | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Avon | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Apr 12 |
| St. John | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Munster | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Highland | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 30 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| La Porte | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Seymour | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Clarksville | Feb 3 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to Apr 21 | Mar 31 |
| Shelbyville | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Apr 17 |
Questions
When should I plant tomatoes in Indiana?
In Indianapolis, plant out from April 27 to May 11. Across Indiana the window opens between April 5 and May 6, depending on the local last frost.
How is this date worked out?
Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.
More for Indiana
Potatoes
Tulip bulbs
Garlic
Pumpkins
Strawberries
Onions
Carrots
Sunflowers
Cucumbers
Daffodil bulbs
Corn
Sweet potatoes
Asparagus
Watermelon
Lettuce
Green beans
Tomatoes in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
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- Delaware
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- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
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- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
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- Montana
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- New Jersey
- New Mexico
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- Ohio
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- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
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