When to plant tulip bulbs in Indiana

Fall planting in Indianapolis

Oct 7–Nov 11

Across Indiana the window opens between October 2 and October 27. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Indianapolis: Oct 7–Nov 11
Last frost, Indianapolis: Apr 20

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

IndianapolisOct 7–Nov 11

Fort WayneOct 7–Nov 11

EvansvilleOct 27–Dec 1

CarmelOct 7–Nov 11

FishersOct 7–Nov 11

South BendOct 9–Nov 13

BloomingtonOct 12–Nov 16

NoblesvilleOct 7–Nov 11

HammondOct 6–Nov 10

LafayetteOct 4–Nov 8

GreenwoodOct 7–Nov 11

GaryOct 13–Nov 17

WestfieldOct 7–Nov 11

MuncieOct 11–Nov 15

KokomoOct 4–Nov 8

Terre HauteOct 5–Nov 9

AndersonOct 9–Nov 13

JeffersonvilleOct 26–Nov 30

ElkhartOct 7–Nov 11

ColumbusOct 11–Nov 15

MishawakaOct 9–Nov 13

LawrenceOct 12–Nov 16

West LafayetteOct 4–Nov 8

PortageOct 13–Nov 17

PlainfieldOct 13–Nov 17

New AlbanyOct 26–Nov 30

MerrillvilleOct 11–Nov 15

Crown PointOct 2–Nov 6

RichmondOct 6–Nov 10

ValparaisoOct 11–Nov 15

All 49 cities

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

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Indiana?

In Indianapolis, fall planting from October 7 to November 11. Across Indiana the window opens between October 2 and October 27, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.