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

Planting zone for 47862 — Montezuma, IN

ZIP code 47862 (Montezuma, Parke County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 47862 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 30
First frostOct 12
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 Montezuma, 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 Montezuma, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season164 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Rockville, IN — 6 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 47862

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 47862 came on Mar 10 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 Montezuma, IN.

Soil in Montezuma, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 47862 is Warsaw — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Warsaw 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 47862; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Montezuma, IN

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,402base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation47.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall13 inper year; 19 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 17 °F 36°17° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 29 °F 52°29° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 62 °F 86°62° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 31 °F 52°31° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.38 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 3.4❄5 JanFebruary: 2.60 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 2.6❄3 FebMarch: 3.32 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.3❄1 MarApril: 4.96 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.0 AprMay: 5.02 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.45 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 3.90 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.9 NovDecember: 3.25 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 3.3❄4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

478606a
Mecca, IN · 4 mi
478546a
Hillsdale, IN · 4 mi
478476a
Dana, IN · 8 mi
478326a
Bloomingdale, IN · 8 mi
479666a
Newport, IN · 9 mi
478426a
Clinton, IN · 9 mi
478726a
Rockville, IN · 10 mi
478746a
Rosedale, IN · 10 mi

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 47862

What planting zone is ZIP code 47862?

ZIP code 47862 (Montezuma, 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 Montezuma, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 47862 is April 30; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rockville station.

When is the first frost in Montezuma, IN?

The median first fall frost near 47862 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 164 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 47862?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 47862 get?

About 47.4 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rockville station).

How hot do summers get in Montezuma, IN?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 28 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 47862 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Warsaw at the center of ZIP 47862: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Montezuma, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 47862 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Montezuma, IN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 47862 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.