Growing Carrots in Indiana: Soil, Sowing and Forked Roots
Indiana’s representative soil, the Miami series, runs 30 percent sand, 20 percent clay and 49 percent silt: a silt loam with enough clay to compact and…
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.
Growing Beets in Indiana: Soil, Sowing and Bolting
The Miami series, Indiana’s representative soil, runs 30 percent sand, 20 percent clay and 49 percent silt with a surface pH near 6.5 and about 2.0…
When to Plant Potatoes in Indiana: Counting Back From Your Last Frost
Count back 14 to 21 days from your last spring frost and plant when soil temperature hits 50°F, not by the calendar alone.
Harvesting and Storing Potatoes in Indiana
In Indiana, potatoes come out of the ground before the first fall frost knocks the vines down, usually in the back half of October, then spend two to…
Potato Varieties That Suit Indiana
The direct figure to plant a season around is the frost window itself: in Indianapolis, the last spring frost falls between April 9 and April 21…
What to Plant in Indiana in September
September in Indiana rewards a gardener who moves fast on quick crops and starts thinking ahead on slow ones.
What to Plant in Indiana in October
October in Indiana splits into two different gardens. Through the first half of the month, soil is still warm enough to get garlic, shallots and a last…
What to Plant in Indiana in November
By November, most of Indiana has already had its first fall frost, so the open garden is largely closing down.
What to Plant in Indiana in May
May is Indiana’s turning point: the statewide frost window closes (April 9 to April 21 around Indianapolis) and tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, and…
What to Plant in Indiana in March
March in Indiana falls before the state’s last spring frost window of April 9 to April 21 (Indianapolis average), so this is a month for hardy crops and…