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

Planting zone for Evansville, IN

Evansville, IN is in USDA zone 7a across its 31 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 10.

Evansville on the zone map

Outlined: its 9 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes31
Last frostMar 29
First frostNov 10
Growing season225 days

7a 31 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Evansville, 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 Evansville, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 10median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season225 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 18 and returns around November 20.

From the NOAA station Evansville Museum, IN, elevation 374 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 Evansville

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 15 – Sep 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 27 – Dec 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 10) 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 47701 came on Mar 2 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 11).

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 7a in Indiana

575 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Indiana, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 73

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 106

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 206

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 165

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 13

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Evansville, IN.

Soil in Evansville, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 47701 is McGary — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: McGary silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slope.

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 47701; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Evansville, IN

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days57days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights69nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,812base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 31 °F 48°31° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 67 °F 87°67° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 71 °F 89°71° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 70 °F 89°70° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 51 °F 72°51° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 33 °F 47°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 4.69 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 AprMay: 4.78 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 3.97 in precipitation 4.0 NovDecember: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Evansville

477017a
0 to 5 °F
477027a
0 to 5 °F
477037a
0 to 5 °F
477047a
0 to 5 °F
477057a
0 to 5 °F
477067a
0 to 5 °F
477087a
0 to 5 °F
477107a
0 to 5 °F
477117a
0 to 5 °F
477127a
0 to 5 °F
477137a
0 to 5 °F
477147a
0 to 5 °F
477157a
0 to 5 °F
477167a
0 to 5 °F
477197a
0 to 5 °F
477207a
0 to 5 °F
477217a
0 to 5 °F
477247a
0 to 5 °F
477257a
0 to 5 °F
477287a
0 to 5 °F
477307a
0 to 5 °F
477317a
0 to 5 °F
477327a
0 to 5 °F
477337a
0 to 5 °F
477347a
0 to 5 °F
477357a
0 to 5 °F
477367a
0 to 5 °F
477377a
0 to 5 °F
477407a
0 to 5 °F
477477a
0 to 5 °F
477507a
0 to 5 °F

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about Evansville

What planting zone is Evansville, IN?

Evansville, IN is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Evansville, IN?

The median last spring frost is March 29 and the median first fall frost is November 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Evansville Museum station).

When can I plant a garden in Evansville, IN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 15 – Mar 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Evansville, IN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Evansville, IN get?

About 47.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).