USDA Indiana Hardiness Zones: 5b, 6a, 6b
Indiana, famous for The Indy 500, is also known for its vast farmlands.
According to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, nearly 80% of Indiana’s land is farmland. Corn and soybeans are popular crops grown on farms in Indiana. These crops are well suited for Indiana’s humid subtropical climate zone.
Indiana’s subtropical climate zone means the weather can be extreme at times. The state’s warm, wet summers and cold winters place Indiana’s planting zones in 5b, 6a, and 6b.
Indiana Planting Zone – A Quick Overview
- If you live in the northern half of Indiana, such as Crawfordsville or Logansport, you most likely live in plant hardiness zone 5b. The average temperatures of zone 5b can be in the negative teen degrees Fahrenheit.
- The plant hardiness zone of the southern half of Indiana is 6a, except for the Evansville area.
- If you live in the surrounding area of Evansville or the very southernmost part of Indiana, your plant hardiness zone is 6b. The difference between zone 6a and zone 6b is a slight difference in minimum temperatures.
Using the Indiana Growing Zones Map
If you want to raise a successful garden, it is essential to correctly evaluate the Indiana growing zone map to determine the hardiness zone of your area. The USDA created a Plant Hardiness Zone Map in 2012 for each state.
This map is the gold standard many growers, farmers, and gardeners use to determine which plants to raise in their gardens and when to plant their crops.
The USDA growing zone map will give you vital information to help you choose your plants for your specific climate in Indiana.
To determine the gardening zone in Indiana for your area, you first need to locate your specific location on the map.
Then, you can either click the state of Indiana and zoom in on your area or enter your address or zip code.
Once you have found your area on the map, use the color-coded legend to determine the growing zone.
There are only three growing zones in Indiana, 5b, 6a, or 6b. The legend will help you determine your specific growing zone.
Explore Our Complete US Hardiness Zone Map
Each of Indiana’s three growing zones is slightly different. When choosing plants for your garden, it is important to realize each zone features a somewhat different climate and growing season length.
It is also helpful to remember that your garden may have a different micro-climate than the surrounding area.
If you live in an area where cooler air is easily trapped or soil types differ, your micro-climate and growing zone may vary slightly from the general region.
Indiana – 7 Months of the Growing Season
Indiana’s growing season is approximately 170 days of the year. The year’s last frost is usually around the middle or end of April. Therefore, depending on your growing zone, it is generally safe to plant after this time.
Many plants, crops, and trees do well in Indiana’s growing zones. You may consider planting beets, cabbage, cucumbers, and peas if you’re a vegetable gardener.
If flowers are more your style, consider the suggestion from McCoy’s Nursery and Landscaping Company to plant marigolds.
You might also consider planting tulips, phlox, or irises. Or, if you want to landscape with trees, think about planting Japanese Maples, Paperback Cherry, or Dawn Redwood.
