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What can I grow here, and when?
Frost dates, planting zones, soil types, and what actually thrives in Indiana — from mountains to coast.
Frost dates & zones
Indiana spans USDA zones 5b (north / South Bend area) to 6b (south / Evansville area). Verify your exact zone and frost dates with your county Extension office — elevation and microclimates create real variation.
Hardiness Zones
5b (north / South Bend area) to 6b (south / Evansville area)
Last frost: varies by region. First frost: varies by region.
Look up your exact zone by ZIP at USDA →What grows well here
Most Indiana soils are naturally productive. Northern IN clay may need drainage improvement. Southern IN hill soils are more acidic — test before adding lime. Purdue Extension county offices provide soil testing.
Know your soil
Indiana soils are predominantly productive silt loam and clay loam deposited by glaciers — some of the best agricultural land in the Midwest. Northern Indiana has heavier clay soils. Southern Indiana's unglaciated hill country has thinner, more acidic soils. The Wabash and Ohio River bottomlands have rich alluvial soils.
Map your soil type with USDA Web Soil Survey →Free soil testing
Free or low-cost soil testing available through your county Extension office
Results include specific lime and fertilizer recommendations
Most states offer testing April through fall — fees apply in winter
Results typically returned within 10 business days
Next steps
Preserve what you grow
Indiana Extension offers food preservation workshops — and NWS has the full canning guides.
Food IndependenceGet the checklist
Spring prep, frost protection, soil test timing, and compost setup — timed to regional frost dates.
IN Checklists