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

Planting zone for 46731 — Craigville, IN

ZIP code 46731 (Craigville, Wells County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 46731 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 24
First frostOct 20
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 Craigville, 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 Craigville, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Bluffton 6n, IN — 3 miles away, elevation 860 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 46731

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 46731 came on Mar 12 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 Craigville, IN.

Soil in Craigville, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 46731 is Pewamo — silty clay loam, very poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.4slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Pewamo silty clay loam, 0 to 1 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 46731; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Craigville, IN

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights126nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,091base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall23 inper year; 35 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 17 °F 32°17° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 19 °F 36°19° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° 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 23 °F 37°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.51 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 2.5❄8 JanFebruary: 1.96 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 2.0❄7 FebMarch: 2.65 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 2.6❄4 MarApril: 3.83 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.8 AprMay: 4.67 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.46 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 3.08 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 2.33 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 2.3❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bluffton 6n, IN (3 mi away); precipitation: Bluffton 6n, IN (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

467826a
Preble, IN · 6 mi
467776a
Ossian, IN · 6 mi
467146a
Bluffton, IN · 6 mi
467916a
Uniondale, IN · 9 mi
467336a
Decatur, IN · 9 mi
467696a
Linn Grove, IN · 11 mi
467726a
Monroe, IN · 11 mi
467666a
Liberty Center, IN · 12 mi

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 46731

What planting zone is ZIP code 46731?

ZIP code 46731 (Craigville, 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 Craigville, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 46731 is April 24; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bluffton 6n station.

When is the first frost in Craigville, IN?

The median first fall frost near 46731 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 46731?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 46731 get?

About 40 inches of precipitation a year and 23 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bluffton 6n station).

How hot do summers get in Craigville, IN?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 12 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 46731 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pewamo at the center of ZIP 46731: silty clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 6.4 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Craigville, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 46731 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Craigville, IN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 46731 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).