Frost Dates for Gary, IN 46404
Gary has 7 ZIP codes. The Gary, IN frost page lists all of them with their dates.
Last spring frost May 2 · First fall frost October 13 · 164 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 46404 has about 15,400 people, one of 7 ZIP codes in Gary.
Moderate season: 164 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 16–May 18 (32 days). Fall frost risk spans September 28–October 29 (31 days).
Frost probability for 46404
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 18 | May 2 | April 16 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 28 | October 13 | October 29 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at LOWELL (35.8 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 164-day season in Gary
In Gary (164 frost-free days, a moderate season), 31 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 24 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 28 | May 16–May 23 | 122 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 122 available after May 16. | Jun 13 |
| Pepper | Mar 21 | May 16–May 23 | 122 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 122 available after May 16. | Jun 18 |
| Lettuce | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 22; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 22 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 11–Apr 18 | 206 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 206 available after Apr 11. | Aug 11 |
| Cucumber | Apr 11 | May 16–May 23 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 17 |
| Beans | — | May 9–May 23 | 150 | two-plantings: Plant May 9 and again by Jul 24; both mature before Oct 6. | Jul 24 |
| Peas | — | Mar 7–May 16 | 227 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 227 available after Mar 7. | Aug 2 |
| Zucchini | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 22 |
| Onion | Feb 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 199 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 199 available after Apr 4. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 7–Apr 25 | 241 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 10; both mature before Nov 3. | Sep 10 |
| Kale | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 26 |
| Broccoli | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 199 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 199 available after Apr 4. | Jul 18 |
| Cabbage | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 213 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 213 available after Apr 4. | Aug 11 |
| Radish | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 11; both mature before Oct 20. | Sep 11 |
| Beets | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 18–Apr 25 | 185 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 18. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 13 | 269 | overwinter: Plant Oct 13 to Nov 3; harvest the following summer. | Nov 3 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 28–May 23 | 220 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 28; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 4 | May 9–May 16 | 136 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 136 available after May 9. | Jun 25 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 18 | May 16–May 16 | 129 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 129 available after May 16. | May 31 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 21 | Apr 25–May 9 | 178 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 178 available after Apr 25. | Jul 23 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 7 | Apr 18–Apr 18 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 18 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 241 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Sep 10; both mature before Nov 3. | Sep 10 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 7 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 213 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 213 available after Apr 4. | Jul 12 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 129 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 129 available after May 16. | May 31 |
| Eggplant | Mar 14 | May 16–May 23 | 122 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 122 available after May 16. | Jun 23 |
| Okra | Apr 4 | May 9–May 16 | 143 | two-plantings: Plant May 9 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 22 |
| Basil | Mar 28 | May 23–May 23 | 129 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 129 available after May 23. | Jul 17 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 4–Apr 25 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 17 |
| Parsley | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 164 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 164 available after May 9. | Jul 28 |
| Celery | Feb 21 | May 9–May 23 | 164 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 164 available after May 9. | Jun 8 |
| Scallions | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 21 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 31 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 21–Apr 4 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 21 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 26 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 4 | Apr 25–May 2 | 178 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 25 and again by Aug 22; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 22 |
| Collards | Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 18 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Nov 3. | Aug 21 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 122 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 122 available after May 16. | Jun 8 |
| Chives | Feb 7 | May 9–May 16 | 178 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 178 available after May 9. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 7–May 30 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 7 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Oregano | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 178 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 178 available after May 9. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 7 | May 9–May 16 | 164 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 164 available after May 9. | — |
| Sage | Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | 178 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 178 available after May 9. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 21 | May 9–May 16 | 178 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 178 available after May 9. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 21 | Apr 18–May 2 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 18 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 17 |
| Cosmos | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 150 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 17 |
| Lavender | Feb 7 | May 2–May 16 | 185 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 185 available after May 2. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 21 | May 2–May 9 | 150 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 27 |
| Melons | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 122 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 122 available after May 16. | Jun 8 |
| Mint | — | May 2–May 16 | 185 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 185 available after May 2. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 4 | May 2–May 9 | 150 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 22 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 9–May 23 | 143 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 143 available after May 9. | Jul 12 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 129 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 129 available after May 16. | Jun 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 2–May 16 | 150 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 150 available after May 2. | Jul 7 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 7 | May 9–May 16 | 129 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 129 available after May 9. | Jun 18 |
| Watermelon | Apr 18 | May 9–May 16 | 129 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 129 available after May 9. | Jun 13 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 18 | May 16–May 23 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 22 |
| Zinnias | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 150 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 17 |
Month by month in Gary
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 7), Lavender (Feb 7), Onion (Feb 7), Rosemary (Feb 7), Celery (Feb 21), Collards (Feb 21), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 7), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 7), Cabbage (Mar 7), Lettuce (Mar 7), Sage (Mar 7), Swiss Chard (Mar 7), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 7), Beets (Mar 7), Dill (Mar 7), Peas (Mar 7), Radish (Mar 7), Spinach (Mar 7), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 28). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 4), Corn (Apr 4), Cosmos (Apr 4), Nasturtiums (Apr 4), Okra (Apr 4), Zinnias (Apr 4), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 4), Turnip (Apr 4), Carrots (Apr 11), Potatoes (Apr 18). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 4), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 4), Cabbage (Apr 4), Collards (Apr 4), Kale (Apr 4), Lettuce (Apr 4), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 2), Beans (May 9), Pole Beans (May 9). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 2), Lavender (May 2), Marigolds (May 2), Mint (May 2), Nasturtiums (May 2), Zinnias (May 2), +23 more. Last frost around May 2. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 31), Pumpkin (May 31). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 8), Celery (Jun 8), Melons (Jun 8), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 10), Tomato (Jun 13), Watermelon (Jun 13), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 7), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 12), Pole Beans (Jul 12), Basil (Jul 17), Cosmos (Jul 17), Cucumber (Jul 17), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Peas (Aug 2), Cabbage (Aug 11), Carrots (Aug 11), Beets (Aug 12), Dill (Aug 12), Swiss Chard (Aug 12), +9 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 10), Spinach (Sep 10), Radish (Sep 11). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 13). First frost around October 13. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 3). |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Gary, IN (ZIP 46404)?
The median last spring frost date for Gary, IN (ZIP code 46404) is around May 2. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 16; one in ten it runs past May 18.
What is the first fall frost date in Gary, IN?
The median first fall frost date for Gary, IN is around October 13. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 28 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Gary, IN?
The frost-free growing season in Gary is about 164 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Gary (164 frost-free days, a moderate season), 31 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 24 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Gary, IN?
Gary, IN is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Gary, IN?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 28 and plant out May 16 in Gary. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Gary?
Two: plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 22; both mature before Oct 20.
When do I plant garlic in Gary?
Oct 13 to Nov 3; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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