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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 46143 — Greenwood, Indiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Indianapolis SE Side, IN (845 ft), 9 miles north.

Updated

In Greenwood, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 20 in half of years and has passed by May 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 21, as early as October 7 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 183 days (NOAA, Indianapolis SE Side, IN).

Last spring frost
April 20

50% probability

First fall frost
October 21

50% probability

Growing season
183 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
December 14

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 4

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

17 of 17 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Greenwood

Half of springs at Indianapolis SE Side, IN see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 70% of the 125 Indiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 21 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 183 days in a typical year, longer than at 54% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 203 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 120 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 10 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 6.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 16Apr 21Apr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 4May 7May 11May 17
32°FApr 6Apr 10Apr 14Apr 17Apr 20Apr 22Apr 26Apr 30May 5
28°FMar 25Mar 30Apr 2Apr 5Apr 7Apr 11Apr 15Apr 19Apr 23
24°FMar 12Mar 18Mar 22Mar 25Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 11
20°FFeb 28Mar 5Mar 10Mar 13Mar 16Mar 20Mar 23Mar 28Apr 1
16°FFeb 16Feb 24Feb 28Mar 3Mar 6Mar 11Mar 14Mar 17Mar 23
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 27Oct 2Oct 6Oct 9Oct 11Oct 14Oct 17Oct 19Oct 24
32°FOct 7Oct 12Oct 16Oct 19Oct 21Oct 24Oct 26Oct 30Nov 3
28°FOct 20Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 7Nov 11Nov 15
24°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19Nov 24Nov 30
20°FNov 7Nov 13Nov 16Nov 21Nov 25Nov 29Dec 1Dec 6Dec 13
16°FNov 16Nov 24Nov 29Dec 1Dec 4Dec 9Dec 15Dec 20Dec 26

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Indianapolis SE Side, IN, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 46143 →Compare Greenwood with another place →

Weather by month in Greenwood

July is the warmest month at Indianapolis SE Side, IN, averaging 84°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,384 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 125 Indiana stations. 36% of them (1,228) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 746. Precipitation totals 44.6 inches a year, most in June (5.4") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Indianapolis SE Side, IN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan34193.1100%272
Feb39222.3100%244
Mar50313.7100%1944
Apr62414.596%5148
May72525.018%<1391
Jun81625.40%0638
Jul84643.90%0746
Aug83633.60%0700
Sep77553.23%<1480
Oct65443.283%4190
Nov51333.4100%1535
Dec39243.3100%255

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Indianapolis SE Side, IN (845 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Franklin Wwtp, IN, 10 miles southeast of Greenwood, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 2 days earlier (October 19), a season 3 days shorter.

Frost dates for 46131 (Franklin) →

When it snows in Greenwood, Indiana

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Greenwood usually arrives around December 14, and the last of the season around March 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Indianapolis SE Side, IN, 8.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 47 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 46143

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Greenwood, Indiana
WhenWhat to do
February 9 – February 23Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 23 – March 9Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 23 – April 6Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 20 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 29Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 7Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 21 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 46143 is 9 miles from Indianapolis SE Side, IN, which stands at 845 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 12 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46143 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Indiana →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6a places in Indiana