When to Plant Onions in Indiana
In Indiana, the time to plant onions outside runs from Mar 1 – Mar 15 in Evansville to Apr 1 – Apr 15 in Crown Point. In Indianapolis city, it's Mar 23 – Apr 6. The average last spring frost differs by about 4 weeks across the state (Mar 29 in Evansville, Apr 29 in Crown Point), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Onions are cold-hardy. Plant sets or transplants early so they grow leaves before long summer days trigger bulbing.
- Start indoors: 10–12 weeks before the last frost.
- Plant outside: 2–4 weeks before the last frost.
Onions planting dates in Indiana by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | 6a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Bloomington | 6b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Brownsburg | 6a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Carmel | 6a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Columbus | 6b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Crown Point | 5b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 |
| East Chicago | 6a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Elkhart | 6a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Evansville | 7a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 |
| Fishers | 6a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Fort Wayne | 6a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Franklin | 6b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Gary | 6a | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Goshen | 6a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Greenfield | 6a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Greenwood | 6a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Hammond | 6a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Hobart | 6a | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Indianapolis city | 6b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Jeffersonville | 7a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Kokomo | 6a | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Lafayette | 6a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Lawrence | 6a | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 |
| Marion | 6a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Merrillville | 6a | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Michigan City | 6a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Mishawaka | 6a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Muncie | 6a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| New Albany | 7a | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 3 – Mar 17 |
| Noblesville | 6a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Plainfield | 6a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Mar 15 – Mar 29 |
| Portage | 6a | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Richmond | 6a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Schererville | 6a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| South Bend | 6a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 |
| Terre Haute | 6a | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Valparaiso | 6a | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| West Lafayette | 6a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Westfield | 6a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| Zionsville | 6a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Indiana, or the general guide to when to plant onions.
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