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

Planting zone for 46346 — Kingsford Heights, IN

ZIP code 46346 (Kingsford Heights, LaPorte County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 46346 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 27
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Kingsford Heights, 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 Kingsford Heights, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season191 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around November 7.

From the NOAA station Laporte, IN — 9 miles away, elevation 810 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 46346

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 46346 came on Mar 21 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 5b in Indiana

533 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Indiana, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 70

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 99

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 191

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 156

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 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Kingsford Heights, IN.

Soil in Kingsford Heights, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 46346 is Tyner — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tyner loamy sand, 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 46346; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kingsford Heights, IN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights119nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,052base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall42 inper year; 58 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 17 °F 31°17° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 20 °F 35°20° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 29 °F 46°29° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 39 °F 59°39° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 64 °F 82°64° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 63 °F 80°63° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 55 °F 74°55° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 44 °F 62°44° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 33 °F 48°33° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 24 °F 36°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.45 in precipitation, 13.8 in snowfall 2.5❄14 JanFebruary: 2.00 in precipitation, 9.4 in snowfall 2.0❄9 FebMarch: 2.51 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 2.5❄5 MarApril: 3.52 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.5❄1 AprMay: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 3.95 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.0 OctNovember: 2.80 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 2.8❄1 NovDecember: 2.49 in precipitation, 11.3 in snowfall 2.5❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Laporte, IN (9 mi away); precipitation: Kingsbury 1n, IN (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

463526a
La Porte, IN · 2 mi
463456a
Kingsbury, IN · 4 mi
463825b
Union Mills, IN · 4 mi
465325b
Hamlet, IN · 6 mi
463405b
Hanna, IN · 8 mi
463506a
La Porte, IN · 9 mi
463905b
Wanatah, IN · 11 mi
465746a
Walkerton, IN · 11 mi

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 46346

What planting zone is ZIP code 46346?

ZIP code 46346 (Kingsford Heights, IN) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Kingsford Heights, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 46346 is April 19; after May 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Laporte station.

When is the first frost in Kingsford Heights, IN?

The median first fall frost near 46346 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 191 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 46346?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 46346 get?

About 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 42 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kingsbury 1n station).

How hot do summers get in Kingsford Heights, IN?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 46346 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tyner at the center of ZIP 46346: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Kingsford Heights, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 46346 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Kingsford Heights, IN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 46346 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).