When is the last frost in Fort Wayne, IN?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Fort Wayne is April 24, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until May 10.

When is the first frost in Fort Wayne?

The average first fall frost in Fort Wayne is October 21, with a growing season of about 178 days.

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Fort Wayne, Indiana frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 24. Average first fall frost: October 21. That gives a growing season of about 178 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is May 10, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Apr 24

1-in-10 risk after May 10

First frost (50%)

Oct 21

1-in-10 risk before Oct 8

Growing season

178 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Apr 12

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	April 10	November 1
70%	April 18	October 25
50%	April 24	October 21
30%	May 1	October 16
10%	May 10	October 8

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 10. These are NOAA probabilities for the Ft Wayne International Airport weather station (USW00014827, elevation 241 m), 1991–2020.

Fort Wayne vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 24). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 10) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Apr 3	May 1 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Feb 13	Mar 27
Brussels sprouts	Feb 13	Mar 27
Cabbage	Feb 6	Mar 20
Cauliflower	Feb 27	Apr 10
Sweet corn	Mar 27	Apr 24 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Apr 10	May 1
Kale	Feb 6	Mar 20
Leeks	Jan 9	Mar 20
Lettuce	Mar 6	Apr 10
Melons	Apr 17	May 8
Onions	Jan 2	Mar 13 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Feb 27	Mar 27 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Mar 13	May 8
Squash	Apr 17	May 8
Tomatoes	Feb 27	Apr 24

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 21. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 8. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around November 1.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Toledo, OH	Apr 22	Oct 24	~136 km
Dayton, OH	Apr 16	Oct 28	~144 km
Indianapolis, IN	Apr 15	Oct 26	~167 km
Lansing, MI	May 1	Oct 13	~208 km
Detroit, MI	Apr 20	Oct 27	~210 km
Grand Rapids, MI	Apr 29	Oct 20	~215 km

More: all Indiana frost dates