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

Planting zone for 46366 — North Judson, IN

ZIP code 46366 (North Judson, Starke County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 46366 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 26
First frostOct 19
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 North Judson, 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 North Judson, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Knox Wwtp, IN — 9 miles away, elevation 689 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 46366

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 46366 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).

Soil in North Judson, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 46366 is Morocco — loamy sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.1%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Morocco 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 46366; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Judson, IN

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights137nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,926base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall29 inper year; 37 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 32 °F, low 16 °F 32°16° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 18 °F 35°18° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 32 °F 49°32° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 22 °F 37°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.74 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 2.7❄10 JanFebruary: 2.44 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 2.4❄9 FebMarch: 2.70 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 2.7❄4 MarApril: 3.58 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 3.01 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.0❄1 NovDecember: 2.56 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 2.6❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Knox Wwtp, IN (9 mi away); precipitation: N Judson 3 S, IN (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

463745b
San Pierre, IN · 7 mi
463485b
La Crosse, IN · 8 mi
465345b
Knox, IN · 9 mi
479575b
Medaryville, IN · 10 mi
463805b
Tefft, IN · 11 mi
469685b
Ora, IN · 12 mi
463405b
Hanna, IN · 12 mi
469965b
Winamac, IN · 12 mi

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 46366

What planting zone is ZIP code 46366?

ZIP code 46366 (North Judson, 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 North Judson, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 46366 is April 26; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Knox Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in North Judson, IN?

The median first fall frost near 46366 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 174 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 46366?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 46366 get?

About 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 29 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Judson 3 S station).

How hot do summers get in North Judson, IN?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 46366 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Morocco at the center of ZIP 46366: loamy sand, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in North Judson, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 46366 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 North Judson, IN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 46366 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).