Evansville, IN Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Evansville garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 29
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 10
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
226 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
7a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 14 Mar 29 Apr 11
First fall frost Nov 25 Nov 10 Oct 27
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 18 · first Nov 20

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Evansville Museum station (1 km from central Evansville). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Evansville

Computed from Evansville's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-7 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 1 – Feb 15 Apr 5 – Apr 12
🫑 Peppers Jan 18 – Feb 1 Apr 12 – Apr 19
🥬 Lettuce Feb 15 – Mar 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15 Mar 1 – Mar 29
🫛 Peas Feb 15 – Mar 1
🥕 Carrots Mar 8 – Mar 29
🥦 Broccoli Feb 8 – Feb 22 Mar 8 – Mar 22
🥬 Kale Feb 15 – Mar 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15 Mar 1 – Mar 15
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 1 – Mar 8 Apr 5 – Apr 12 Apr 5 – Apr 12
🥒 Zucchini Mar 1 – Mar 8 Apr 5 – Apr 12 Apr 5 – Apr 12
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 5 – Apr 12
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 5 – Apr 12
🌿 Basil Feb 15 – Mar 1 Apr 5 – Apr 12 Apr 12 – Apr 19
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 29 – Oct 27

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Evansville's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Evansville

With roughly 226 frost-free days, Evansville gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 10 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Evansville, IN?

The average last spring frost in Evansville is around Mar 29, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Evansville, IN?

The average first fall frost in Evansville arrives around Nov 10. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Evansville?

About 226 frost-free days on average, from Mar 29 to Nov 10. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Evansville in?

USDA zone 7a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.