When to Plant Peppers in Indiana
In Indiana, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Apr 12 – Apr 26 in Evansville to May 13 – May 27 in Crown Point. In Indianapolis city, it's May 4 – May 18. 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.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Indiana by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson | 6a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Bloomington | 6b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Brownsburg | 6a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Carmel | 6a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Columbus | 6b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Crown Point | 5b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | May 13 – May 27 |
| East Chicago | 6a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | May 7 – May 21 |
| Elkhart | 6a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Evansville | 7a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Fishers | 6a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Fort Wayne | 6a | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Franklin | 6b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Gary | 6a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Goshen | 6a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Greenfield | 6a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Greenwood | 6a | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Hammond | 6a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | May 7 – May 21 |
| Hobart | 6a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Indianapolis city | 6b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Jeffersonville | 7a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Kokomo | 6a | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 |
| Lafayette | 6a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Lawrence | 6a | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Marion | 6a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Merrillville | 6a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Michigan City | 6a | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Mishawaka | 6a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | May 7 – May 21 |
| Muncie | 6a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| New Albany | 7a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Noblesville | 6a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Plainfield | 6a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Portage | 6a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| Richmond | 6a | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Schererville | 6a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | May 7 – May 21 |
| South Bend | 6a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | May 7 – May 21 |
| Terre Haute | 6a | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Valparaiso | 6a | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 |
| West Lafayette | 6a | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 |
| Westfield | 6a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| Zionsville | 6a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
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 peppers.
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