Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Columbus, IN

Columbus, IN is in USDA zone 6b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 25.

Columbus on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 11
First frostOct 25
Growing season195 days

6b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Columbus, IN…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Columbus, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season195 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Columbus, IN, elevation 610 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Columbus

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 25) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 47202 came on Mar 8 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6b in Indiana

564 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Indiana, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 72

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 105

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 202

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 162

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Columbus, IN.

Soil in Columbus, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 47202 is Fox — loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Fox complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 47202; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Columbus, IN

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,724base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 19 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 22 °F 39°22° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 24 °F 43°24° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 34 °F 54°34° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.42 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 3.4❄6 JanFebruary: 2.91 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 2.9❄5 FebMarch: 3.78 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.8❄2 MarApril: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 AprMay: 4.99 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.31 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.60 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.6 NovDecember: 3.71 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 3.7❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbus, IN (2 mi away); precipitation: Columbus, IN (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Columbus

472016b
−5 to 0 °F
472026b
−5 to 0 °F
472036b
−5 to 0 °F

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about Columbus

What planting zone is Columbus, IN?

Columbus, IN is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Columbus, IN?

The median last spring frost is April 11 and the median first fall frost is October 25 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbus station).

When can I plant a garden in Columbus, IN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 28 – Mar 21; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 18, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Columbus, IN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Columbus, IN get?

About 47.3 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).