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

Planting zone for 46946 — Liberty Mills, IN

ZIP code 46946 (Liberty Mills, Wabash County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 46946 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 26
First frostOct 19
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Liberty Mills, 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 Liberty Mills, 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 11only 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 14 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station N Manchester Wwtp, IN — 4 miles away, elevation 761 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 46946

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 46946 came on Mar 12 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Liberty Mills, IN.

Soil in Liberty Mills, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 46946 is Fox — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fox loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, eroded.

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 46946; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Liberty Mills, IN

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days12days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights134nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,013base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation41.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall30 inper year; 44 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 33 °F, low 17 °F 33°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 38 °F 60°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 42 °F 64°42° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 31 °F 50°31° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 23 °F 37°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.56 in precipitation, 11 in snowfall 2.6❄11 JanFebruary: 1.96 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 2.0❄9 FebMarch: 3.02 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.0❄4 MarApril: 3.86 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.9 AprMay: 4.50 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 3.07 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 3.1❄1 NovDecember: 2.56 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 2.6❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: N Manchester Wwtp, IN (4 mi away); precipitation: N Manchester Wwtp, IN (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

469626a
North Manchester, IN · 4 mi
467876a
South Whitley, IN · 6 mi
469436a
Laketon, IN · 7 mi
469826a
Silver Lake, IN · 8 mi
467136a
Bippus, IN · 9 mi
465106a
Claypool, IN · 9 mi
469906a
Urbana, IN · 9 mi
465626a
Pierceton, IN · 12 mi

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 46946

What planting zone is ZIP code 46946?

ZIP code 46946 (Liberty Mills, 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 Liberty Mills, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 46946 is April 26; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Manchester Wwtp station.

When is the first frost in Liberty Mills, IN?

The median first fall frost near 46946 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 174 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 46946?

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 46946 get?

About 41.1 inches of precipitation a year and 30 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Manchester Wwtp station).

How hot do summers get in Liberty Mills, 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 46946 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fox at the center of ZIP 46946: loam, well drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Liberty Mills, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 46946 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Liberty Mills, IN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 46946 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 46946 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 46946 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.