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

Planting zone for 46176 — Shelbyville, IN

ZIP code 46176 (Shelbyville, Shelby County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 46176 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 17
First frostOct 22
2012 zone6a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Shelbyville, 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 Shelbyville, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season187 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Shelbyville Sewage Plt, IN — within 1 mile, elevation 751 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 46176

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 1 – May 15
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 17) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 46176 came on Mar 10 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 6a in Indiana

558 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Indiana, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 71

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 200

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 161

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 9

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low 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 Shelbyville, IN.

Soil in Shelbyville, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 46176 is Fox — loam, well drained.

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 classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fox loam, 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 46176; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shelbyville, IN

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights115nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,497base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 58 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation44 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall15 inper year; 15 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 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 53 °F 74°53° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 33 °F 52°33° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.32 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 3.3❄5 JanFebruary: 2.68 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 2.7❄4 FebMarch: 3.30 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.3❄2 MarApril: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 AprMay: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 3.44 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 3.39 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 3.4❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Shelbyville Sewage Plt, IN (within 1 mile); precipitation: Shelbyville Sewage Plt, IN (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

461826a
Waldron, IN · 7 mi
461106a
Boggstown, IN · 8 mi
461266a
Fairland, IN · 9 mi
461506a
Manilla, IN · 9 mi
461626b
Needham, IN · 10 mi
472346b
Flat Rock, IN · 10 mi
461306a
Fountaintown, IN · 11 mi
461616a
Morristown, IN · 11 mi

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 46176

What planting zone is ZIP code 46176?

ZIP code 46176 (Shelbyville, IN) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Shelbyville, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 46176 is April 17; after May 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shelbyville Sewage Plt station.

When is the first frost in Shelbyville, IN?

The median first fall frost near 46176 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 187 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 46176?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 20 – Mar 6 and set transplants outside around Apr 24 – May 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 46176 get?

About 44 inches of precipitation a year and 15 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shelbyville Sewage Plt station).

How hot do summers get in Shelbyville, IN?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 46176 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fox at the center of ZIP 46176: loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Shelbyville, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 46176 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shelbyville, IN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 46176 is 14 h 58 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.