Indiana Planting Zones

Indiana’s humid continental climate results in wet, hot summers and cold winders. This extreme weather limits the Indiana planting zones to just two primarily. The very bottom of the state has a humid subtropical climate and receives more rain throughout the year than other parts of the state. Perhaps the most notable aspect of Indiana’s climate is the active thunderstorm and tornado season in the spring, which is common due to the move from the cold winter to a much warmer spring season. Summers encourage very high temperatures and extremely humid conditions. 

It is necessary to determine Indiana planting zones before planning a garden. Gilmour’s Interactive Planting Zone Map makes this very easy. With a relatively small range of just 5b to 6b, Indiana growing zones are generally fairly consistent across the state. Planting zones are a necessary part of gardening. They are a scientific way to determine what plants will grow best in a region, as well as telling us when to plant. Planting times work off first and last frost dates, so knowing when those are is critical to planting a successful garden that flourishes and thrives. In general, it is safe to plant anything from the zone you are in or below. Be wary of trying to plant anything that is rated for a higher zone, as these plants will most often struggle to survive winter conditions. For example, if planting in zone 5b, it would fine to plant anything rated for zones 1 to 5. 

Many flowers and vegetables do extremely well in either Indiana planting zone. Any of the following should thrive in the area: coneflower, coral bells, foxglove, hosta and ice plant, just to name a few. If planning a vegetable garden, consider planting sugar snap peas, radishes, carrots, green beans, cherry tomatoes or pumpkins.