When to Sow Sweet Corn in Indiana
Sweet corn seed goes into Indiana ground once the soil itself reaches 60 F, which lands well after the last spring frost, not on the same date.
Gardening in Indiana
Everything we have worked out for Indiana: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Indianapolis, the last spring freeze runs April 9 to April 21 and the first fall freeze runs October 21 to October 30, USDA zones 5b-7a, 3,822 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Indiana: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Indiana
Sow autumn spinach in Indiana once the soil has cooled below that 80°F germination ceiling, counting back 50 to 75 days from the harvest date you want.
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Indiana?
Yes, spinach will bolt early in Indiana most seasons. The state’s long summer daylight (14 hours 49 minutes on the longest day) triggers flowering…
Will Indiana Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Yes, in most cases. The soil that represents Indiana drains “moderately well,” which is exactly the condition an asparagus bed needs, and nothing more…
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Indiana
Plant asparagus crowns in Indiana in early spring, timed to land around the state’s last frost window rather than on a fixed calendar date.
Growing Sweet Corn in Indiana: Will It Ripen?
Sweet corn ripens reliably in most of Indiana, but the calendar that matters isn’t the frost date most gardeners circle in April.
Growing Asparagus in Indiana: Fifteen Years in One Spot
A bed of asparagus planted in Indiana ground will still be sending up spears ten to fifteen years from now, provided the spot drains well.
When to Start Pepper Seed in Indiana
Start pepper seed indoors 8 to 10 weeks before you plan to set transplants outside, which in most of Indiana lands somewhere in the back half of February…
When to Sow Pumpkins in Indiana
In most of Indiana, pumpkin seed goes into the ground once soil hits 65°F, which usually lands somewhere between mid-May and early June.
Will Pumpkins Ripen Before Frost in Indiana?
Yes, but the margin is thinner than most Indiana gardeners assume. A pumpkin needs 45 to 55 days from the moment a female flower opens until the rind…