Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 46228 (Indianapolis city (balance), IN)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Indianapolis Eagle Creek AP, IN (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)198 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 46228 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 29: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 30 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 29 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 23 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 12 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 1 | Nov 6 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 46228
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 29). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 22–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 8–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 1–15 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Indianapolis Eagle Creek AP, IN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00053842), elevation 823 ft, 5.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castleton 2 S, IN | 8 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 11 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| Indianapolis Nwfo, IN | 11 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 46228
When is the last frost in 46228?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 46228 is April 12. For a more cautious planting date, use April 29, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 46228?
The average first fall freeze is October 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 16.
What hardiness zone is 46228?
ZIP 46228 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 46228 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
46208 Indianapolis city (balance) 46260 Indianapolis city (balance) 46254 Indianapolis city (balance) 46205 Indianapolis city (balance) 46268 Indianapolis city (balance) 46222 Indianapolis city (balance) 46224 Indianapolis city (balance) 46202 Indianapolis city (balance)
Other ZIP codes in Marion County
46107 46183 46201 46202 46203 46204 46205 46206 46208 46214 46216 46217 46218 46219 46220 46221 46222 46224 46225 46226 46227 46229 46235 46236 All Marion County frost dates · Indiana frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.