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

Planting zone for 47303 — Muncie, IN

ZIP code 47303 (Muncie, Delaware County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 47303 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 16
First frostOct 25
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 Muncie, 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 Muncie, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season190 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Muncie Delaware Co. Airport, IN — 2 miles away, elevation 938 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 47303

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 47303 came on Mar 10 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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 Muncie, IN.

Soil in Muncie, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 47303 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 47303; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Muncie, IN

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights119nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,753base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 18 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation40.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 21 °F 36°21° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 24 °F 40°24° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 33 °F 51°33° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 54 °F 75°54° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 36 °F 52°36° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 27 °F 41°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 JanFebruary: 2.27 in precipitation 2.3 FebMarch: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 MarApril: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 4.81 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.96 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Muncie Delaware Co. Airport, IN (2 mi away); precipitation: Muncie Delaware Co. Airport, IN (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

473086a
Muncie, IN · 3 mi
473066a
Muncie, IN · 5 mi
473046a
Muncie, IN · 5 mi
473386a
Eaton, IN · 5 mi
473056a
Muncie, IN · 5 mi
473206a
Albany, IN · 6 mi
473426a
Gaston, IN · 8 mi
473076a
Muncie, IN · 8 mi

All 7 ZIP codes in Muncie → · Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 47303

What planting zone is ZIP code 47303?

ZIP code 47303 (Muncie, 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 Muncie, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 47303 is April 16; after May 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Muncie Delaware Co. Airport station.

When is the first frost in Muncie, IN?

The median first fall frost near 47303 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 190 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 47303?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 19 – Mar 5 and set transplants outside around Apr 23 – May 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 47303 get?

About 40.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Muncie Delaware Co. Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Muncie, IN?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 47303 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pewamo at the center of ZIP 47303: silty clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 6.4 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Muncie, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 47303 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Muncie, IN?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 47303 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).