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

Planting zone for 47870 — Prairieton, IN

ZIP code 47870 (Prairieton, Vigo County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost October 19.

Where ZIP 47870 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 15
First frostOct 19
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Prairieton, 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 Prairieton, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season187 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Terre Haute Indiana State, IN — 8 miles away, elevation 509 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 47870

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
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 15) 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 47870 came on Mar 10 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21).

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 6b in Indiana

564 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Indiana, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 72

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 202

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 162

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °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 °F

Vines 11

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 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °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 Prairieton, IN.

Soil in Prairieton, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 47870 is Warsaw — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Warsaw sandy 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 47870; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Prairieton, IN

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights116nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,193base 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
Precipitation44.7 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 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 66 °F 90°66° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 64 °F 89°64° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 43 °F 71°43° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 25 °F 45°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 2.48 in precipitation 2.5 JanFebruary: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 MarApril: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 AprMay: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Terre Haute Indiana State, IN (8 mi away); precipitation: Terre Haute Indiana State, IN (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

478026a
Terre Haute, IN · 3 mi
478086a
Terre Haute, IN · 6 mi
478696b
Prairie Creek, IN · 7 mi
478016a
Terre Haute, IN · 7 mi
478096a
Terre Haute, IN · 8 mi
478076a
Terre Haute, IN · 8 mi
624236a
Dennison, IL · 9 mi
478506b
Farmersburg, IN · 9 mi

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 47870

What planting zone is ZIP code 47870?

ZIP code 47870 (Prairieton, IN) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Prairieton, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 47870 is April 15; after May 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Terre Haute Indiana State station.

When is the first frost in Prairieton, IN?

The median first fall frost near 47870 is October 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 187 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 47870?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 18 – Mar 4 and set transplants outside around Apr 22 – May 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 47870 get?

About 44.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Terre Haute Indiana State station).

How hot do summers get in Prairieton, IN?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 47 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 47870 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Warsaw at the center of ZIP 47870: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Prairieton, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 47870 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Prairieton, IN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 47870 is 14 h 57 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 47870 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 47870 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.