Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport, IN Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Apr 20
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Oct 26
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
189 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 6a
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Apr 6 Apr 20 May 7
First fall frost Nov 8 Oct 26 Oct 12
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Apr 7 · first Nov 7

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the VALPARAISO PORTER CO MUNI AP station. "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 Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport

Computed from Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-6 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 23 – Mar 9 Apr 27 – May 4
🫑 Peppers Feb 9 – Feb 23 May 4 – May 11
🥬 Lettuce Mar 9 – Mar 23 Mar 23 – Apr 6 Mar 23 – Apr 20
🫛 Peas Mar 9 – Mar 23
🥕 Carrots Mar 30 – Apr 20
🥦 Broccoli Mar 2 – Mar 16 Mar 30 – Apr 13
🥬 Kale Mar 9 – Mar 23 Mar 23 – Apr 6 Mar 23 – Apr 6
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 23 – Mar 30 Apr 27 – May 4 Apr 27 – May 4
🥒 Zucchini Mar 23 – Mar 30 Apr 27 – May 4 Apr 27 – May 4
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 27 – May 4
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 27 – May 4
🌿 Basil Mar 9 – Mar 23 Apr 27 – May 4 May 4 – May 11
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 14 – Oct 12

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 Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport

Roughly 189 frost-free days gives Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport gardeners room for nearly every common vegetable. Warm-season crops go out after Apr 20; a fall garden sown in late summer matures comfortably before the Oct 26 frost.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport, IN?

The average last spring frost in Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport is around Apr 20, 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 Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport, IN?

The average first fall frost in Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport arrives around Oct 26. 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 Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport?

About 189 frost-free days on average, from Apr 20 to Oct 26. That fits nearly all common vegetables, though the longest-season melons and sweet potatoes benefit from transplants.

What USDA zone is Valparaiso Porter Co Municipal Airport in?

USDA zone 6a 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.