When to plant lavender in Indianapolis, Indiana

April 20 – May 4

Transplant outdoors · typical Indianapolis year

Climate basis: NOAA station Indianapolis Se Side, IN (USC00124272), 6 mi (10 km) from downtown Indianapolis (ZCTA 46204 centroid), elevation 845 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant lavender outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 20). One year in ten still freezes after May 5.

Last spring freezeApril 201-in-10 after May 5
First fall freezeOctober 211-in-10 before Oct 7
Frost-free season183 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 7Nov 1kills even hardy greens
USDA zone6b-5 to 0°F winter low not frost timing

The Indianapolis year

Transplant outdoorsApr 20 – May 4
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 5
Lavender in Indianapolis · freeze context from Indianapolis Se Side, IN, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

Apr 20 – May 4

Utah State University Extension instructs transplanting after the last spring frost, a point rule encoded per policy as a 14-day span opening at the last-frost date; no reconciliation was needed because this is the entry's only source. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 20). Utah State University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Utah State University Extension advises against direct seeding, stating that the germination rate is low and that seeding to transplanting takes between 100 and 200 days.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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