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Indianapolis, Indiana · vegetable planting calendar
What to plant now in Indianapolis
This month's sowing list for Indianapolis, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.
October
1 vegetable to sow or plant now
1 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 26, and frost is unlikely after about May 10.
Sow or plant in Indianapolis in October
Start seeds indoors
Nothing this month.
Direct sow
Nothing this month.
Transplant
- Garlic
Ready to pick in October
- Arugula
- Beets
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Bush beans
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Kale
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Pole beans
- Potato
- Radish
- Runner beans
- Scallions
- Strawberry
- Sweet corn
- Swiss chard
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Winter squash
- Zucchini
Coming up in November
Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.
When to plant the favourites in Indianapolis
Tomatoes
Start seeds indoors: April to May.
Transplant: May to July.
Best time to start: May to June.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 16 weeks after starting.
Potatoes
Plant: April to June and August.
Best time to start: April and August.
Pick: July to November.
First pick about 9 weeks after starting.
Garlic
Plant: September to November.
Best time to start: September to November.
Pick: May to July.
First pick about 33 weeks after starting.
Lettuce
Direct sow: March to May and August to September.
Best time to start: March to May and August to September.
Pick: June to July and September to December.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
Carrots
Direct sow: March to August.
Best time to start: March to May and July to August.
Pick: June to January.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Bush beans
Direct sow: May to August.
Best time to start: May to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Onions
Start seeds indoors: January to March.
Transplant: March to May.
Best time to start: March to May.
Pick: July to August.
First pick about 20 weeks after starting.
Strawberries
Plant: April to May.
Best time to start: April to May.
Pick: July to November.
First pick about 14 weeks after starting.
Winter squash
Start seeds indoors: April to June.
Direct sow: May to June.
Transplant: May to July.
Best time to start: May to June.
Pick: August to October.
First pick about 13 weeks after starting.
Zucchini
Start seeds indoors: April to July.
Direct sow: May to August.
Transplant: May to August.
Best time to start: May to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
The planting year in Indianapolis
- Start seeds indoors
- Direct sow
- Transplant
- Pick
- Paler: possible, but not the best time
| Vegetable | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | First pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | |||||||
| Basil | T | S | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Beets | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||||
| Bell pepper | T | T | P | P | P | about 16 weeks | |||||||
| Bok choy | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | |||||
| Broccoli | T | T | P | T | P | P | about 12 weeks | ||||||
| Brussels sprouts | T | P | about 18 weeks | ||||||||||
| Bush beans | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||
| Cabbage | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 13 weeks | |||||
| Cantaloupe | S | S | S | about 10 weeks | |||||||||
| Carrot | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||
| Cauliflower | T | P | about 14 weeks | ||||||||||
| Celeriac | T | P | about 23 weeks | ||||||||||
| Celery | T | P | P | about 20 weeks | |||||||||
| Chives | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | |||||
| Cilantro | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||||
| Cucumber | T | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Dill | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||||
| Eggplant | T | T | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | |||||||
| Fava beans | S | S | S | about 11 weeks | |||||||||
| Garlic | P | P | P | about 33 weeks | |||||||||
| Hot pepper | T | T | P | P | P | about 18 weeks | |||||||
| Kale | S | S | S | P | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||
| Leek | T | T | P | P | P | T | P | about 18 weeks | |||||
| Lettuce | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Okra | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||||
| Onion | T | T | P | P | P | about 20 weeks | |||||||
| Parsley | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | |||||
| Parsnip | S | about 11 weeks | |||||||||||
| Peas | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||
| Pole beans | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||||||||
| Potato | P | P | P | P | about 9 weeks | ||||||||
| Radish | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 3 weeks | |||||
| Runner beans | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||||
| Scallions | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | |||||
| Spinach | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||||
| Strawberry | P | P | about 14 weeks | ||||||||||
| Sweet corn | T | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | ||||||||
| Sweet potato | P | about 12 weeks | |||||||||||
| Swiss chard | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||||
| Tomato | T | P | P | P | about 16 weeks | ||||||||
| Turnip | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Watermelon | P | S | P | about 10 weeks | |||||||||
| Winter squash | T | S | S | P | about 13 weeks | ||||||||
| Zucchini | T | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks |
The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.
Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: parsnip.
Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: fava beans.
Indianapolis season by season
Spring March to May
Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrot, celeriac, celery, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, fava beans, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, parsley, parsnip, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Last chance for: arugula, broccoli, celeriac, celery, cilantro, fava beans, lettuce, onion, parsnip, peas, spinach, strawberry and turnip.
Summer June to August
Time to start: arugula, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, leek, lettuce, okra, potato, runner beans, sweet potato and turnip.
Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, okra, pole beans, potato, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Fall September to November
Time to start: cilantro, garlic and spinach.
Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.
Winter December to February
Time to start: broccoli, cabbage, celeriac, celery, leek and onion.
Last chance for: celeriac and celery.
Frost in Indianapolis
- Last frost, most years
- around April 26
- Frost is unlikely after
- about May 10
- First frost, most years
- around October 17
- Frost-free days in a year
- about 174
The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.
Harder to grow in Indianapolis
Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: rutabaga.
Questions about planting in Indianapolis
What can I plant now in Indianapolis?
In October, 1 vegetables can be sown or planted in Indianapolis, including garlic. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.
When should I plant tomatoes in Indianapolis?
In Indianapolis, sow tomatoes indoors from April to May and transplant them from May to July. The best time to start is from May to June. Picking runs from July to October.
When should I plant potatoes in Indianapolis?
In Indianapolis, plant potatoes from April to June and in August. The best time to start is in April and in August. Picking runs from July to November.
When should I plant garlic in Indianapolis?
In Indianapolis, plant garlic from September to November. The best time to start is from September to November. Picking runs from May to July.
When is the last frost in Indianapolis?
In most years the last frost in Indianapolis comes around April 26. Frost is unlikely after about May 10, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 17.
Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Indianapolis?
The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), beets (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), Swiss chard (about 5 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks) and cucumber (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.
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These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Indianapolis. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).