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

Planting zone for 47879 — Shelburn, IN

ZIP code 47879 (Shelburn, Sullivan County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost October 27.

Where ZIP 47879 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 8
First frostOct 27
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 Shelburn, 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 Shelburn, IN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season201 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Farmersburg Tv-2, IN — 3 miles away, elevation 548 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 47879

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 47879 came on Mar 8 — 13 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).

Soil in Shelburn, IN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 47879 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 47879; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shelburn, IN

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days27days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights99nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,910base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation44.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall15 inper year; 23 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 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 35 °F 54°35° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.19 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 3.2❄5 JanFebruary: 2.30 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 2.3❄4 FebMarch: 3.53 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 3.5❄2 MarApril: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 4.66 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 4.96 in precipitation 5.0 JunJuly: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.67 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.7 OctNovember: 3.81 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.8❄1 NovDecember: 2.89 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 2.9❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Farmersburg Tv-2, IN (3 mi away); precipitation: Farmersburg Tv-2, IN (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

478506b
Farmersburg, IN · 4 mi
478556a
Hymera, IN · 4 mi
478666a
Pimento, IN · 7 mi
478826b
Sullivan, IN · 8 mi
478456a
Coalmont, IN · 8 mi
478696b
Prairie Creek, IN · 8 mi
478526b
Graysville, IN · 9 mi
478586a
Lewis, IN · 9 mi

Indiana planting zones →

Questions about 47879

What planting zone is ZIP code 47879?

ZIP code 47879 (Shelburn, 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 Shelburn, IN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 47879 is April 8; after April 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmersburg Tv-2 station.

When is the first frost in Shelburn, IN?

The median first fall frost near 47879 is October 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 201 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 47879?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 11 – Feb 25 and set transplants outside around Apr 15 – Apr 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 47879 get?

About 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 15 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmersburg Tv-2 station).

How hot do summers get in Shelburn, IN?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 27 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 47879 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Reesville at the center of ZIP 47879: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Shelburn, IN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 47879 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shelburn, IN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 47879 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.