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

Planting zone for 47803 — Terre Haute, IN

ZIP code 47803 (Terre Haute, Vigo 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 18.

Where ZIP 47803 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 18
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 Terre Haute, 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 Terre Haute, 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 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Terre Haute Hulman Regional Airport, IN — within 1 mile, elevation 574 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 47803

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 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 47803 came on Mar 10 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23).

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 Terre Haute, IN.

Soil in Terre Haute, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 47803 is Reesville — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Reesville silt loam, 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 47803; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Terre Haute, IN

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights110nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,638base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 57 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 23 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation40.8 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 37 °F, low 21 °F 37°21° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 33 °F 53°33° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 26 °F 41°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.60 in precipitation 2.6 JanFebruary: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 MarApril: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 AprMay: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 NovDecember: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Terre Haute Hulman Regional Airport, IN (within 1 mile); precipitation: Terre Haute Hulman Regional Airport, IN (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

478786a
Seelyville, IN · 3 mi
478046a
Terre Haute, IN · 5 mi
478076a
Terre Haute, IN · 5 mi
478096a
Terre Haute, IN · 5 mi
478056a
Terre Haute, IN · 6 mi
478016a
Terre Haute, IN · 6 mi
478086a
Terre Haute, IN · 6 mi
478816a
Staunton, IN · 6 mi

All 8 ZIP codes in Terre Haute → · Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 47803

What planting zone is ZIP code 47803?

ZIP code 47803 (Terre Haute, 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 Terre Haute, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 47803 is April 16; after May 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Terre Haute Hulman Regional Airport station.

When is the first frost in Terre Haute, IN?

The median first fall frost near 47803 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 47803?

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 47803 get?

About 40.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Terre Haute Hulman Regional Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Terre Haute, IN?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 47803 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Reesville at the center of ZIP 47803: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Terre Haute, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 47803 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Terre Haute, IN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 47803 is 14 h 57 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.