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Last and first frost dates in Fort Wayne

United States

In Fort Wayne the last spring frost usually comes around 24 April and the first autumn frost around 2 November, which leaves about 192 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 9 May to 13 July.

Last spring frostaround 24 April
First autumn frostaround 2 November
Frost-free days192 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Fort Wayne?

The last frost in Fort Wayne usually comes around 24 April: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 3 April, while corn waits until 1 May. The first autumn frost follows around 2 November, about 192 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha1 March – 25 July10 April – 3 September1 May – 3 September
Ageratumfrom 21 February—from 9 May
Arugula——sow 3 April – 28 September
Basil23 March – 31 August30 April – 8 October21 May – 8 October
Beet——sow 3 April – 3 September
Bell Pepper1 March – 14 May30 April – 13 July21 May – 13 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 7 February—from 1 May
Bok Choy6 March – 11 September10 April – 16 October1 May – 16 October
Borage——sow 1 May – 8 September
Broad bean——sow 3 April – 25 July
Broccoli——sow 3 April – 18 July
Brussels Sprouts27 January – 15 June13 March – 30 July3 April – 30 July
Busy Lizziefrom 6 February—from 1 May
Cabbage——sow 3 April – 25 June
Calendula——sow from 3 April
Carrot——sow 3 April – 10 August
Cauliflower30 January – 18 July13 March – 29 August3 April – 29 August
Celeriac23 January – 15 May10 April – 31 July1 May – 31 July
Celery23 January – 25 May10 April – 10 August1 May – 10 August
Celosiafrom 9 Marchfrom 23 Aprilfrom 14 May
Chamomile——sow 3 April – 29 August
Chayote12 January – 8 May10 April – 4 August1 May – 4 August
Chickpea——sow 3 April – 15 July
Chicory16 February – 9 August—3 April – 3 September
Chili Pepper1 March – 20 June30 April – 19 August21 May – 19 August
China asterfrom 9 Marchfrom 30 Aprilfrom 21 May
Chives——sow 3 April – 20 August
Cilantro——sow 3 April – 30 August
Corn——sow 1 May – 15 July
Corn poppy——sow from 3 April
Cosmosfrom 9 Marchfrom 23 Aprilfrom 14 May
Cucumber2 April – 21 July30 April – 18 August21 May – 18 August
Daikon——sow 3 April – 27 August
Delphiniumfrom 13 January—from 3 April
Dill——sow 3 April – 9 September
Edging lobeliafrom 6 February—from 1 May
Eggplant1 March – 14 May30 April – 13 July21 May – 13 July
Florence fennel24 February – 25 July10 April – 8 September1 May – 8 September
Foxglovefrom 26 December—from 3 April
Garden sorrel——sow 3 April – 28 August
Green Beans——sow 14 May – 23 July
Hollyhock——sow from 3 April
Hyssop——sow 3 April – 21 July
Kale——sow 3 April – 22 August
Kiwano17 March – 28 July18 April – 29 August9 May – 29 August
Kohlrabi——sow 3 April – 1 September
Leek2 January – 6 May13 March – 15 July3 April – 15 July
Lemon balm——sow 3 April – 24 August
Lettuce——sow 3 April – 6 September
Lisianthusfrom 16 Decemberfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Lovage——sow from 3 April
Luffa19 March – 22 May30 April – 3 July21 May – 3 July
Marigoldfrom 27 Februaryfrom 10 Aprilfrom 1 May
Marjoram1 March – 9 August—21 May – 8 October
Melon2 April – 8 July30 April – 5 August21 May – 5 August
Microgreens——sow 14 May – 19 October
Moringa15 March – 14 August9 May – 8 October30 May – 8 October
Moss rosefrom 13 February—from 1 May
Mustard greens——sow 3 April – 18 September
Napa cabbage8 March – 19 August10 April – 21 September1 May – 21 September
Nasturtiumfrom 3 Marchfrom 10 Aprilfrom 1 May
Okra19 March – 2 August30 April – 13 September21 May – 13 September
Oregano12 January – 30 July13 March – 28 September3 April – 28 September
Pansyfrom 16 Januaryfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Parsley——sow 3 April – 18 August
Parsnip——sow 3 April – 7 July
Peanut24 March – 28 June30 April – 4 August21 May – 4 August
Peas——sow 3 April – 20 August
Petuniafrom 26 Februaryfrom 30 Aprilfrom 21 May
Physalis4 March – 25 June18 April – 9 August9 May – 9 August
Pumpkin19 March – 27 May30 April – 8 July21 May – 8 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 10 January—from 3 April
Radish——sow 3 April – 3 October
Sage23 January – 26 July13 March – 13 September3 April – 13 September
Scarlet sagefrom 25 February—from 9 May
Snapdragonfrom 7 Januaryfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Soybean——sow 21 May – 14 August
Spinach——sow 3 April – 8 September
Stevia28 February – 16 June18 April – 4 August9 May – 4 August
Stock——sow from 3 April
Sunflower——sow from 14 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 3 April
Sweet Corn19 March – 9 August10 April – 31 August1 May – 31 August
Sweet peafrom 30 Januaryfrom 13 Marchfrom 3 April
Sweet William——sow from 3 April
Swiss Chard——sow 3 April – 3 September
Thyme——sow 3 April – 15 July
Tomato25 February – 22 May18 April – 13 July9 May – 13 July
Turnip——sow 3 April – 5 September
Watercress——sow 3 April – 16 September
Watermelon2 April – 26 June30 April – 24 July21 May – 24 July
Zinniafrom 4 Aprilfrom 9 Mayfrom 30 May
Zucchini9 April – 26 July30 April – 16 August21 May – 16 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Fort Wayne

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 16 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 15 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C9 March46 days earlier
10 °C8 April16 days earlier
15 °C9 May15 days later
18 °C21 May27 days later

Frost dates near Fort Wayne

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Indianapolis (14 April) and latest in Lansing (28 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Toledo (United States)148 km22 April7 November
Dayton167 km17 April9 November
Indianapolis169 km14 April6 November
Ann Arbor176 km28 April5 November
Lansing187 km28 April2 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Fort Wayne

Within 15 km of Fort Wayne OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Stuckey's Greenhouses INC., 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Fort Wayne

Frosts in Fort Wayne usually come from about 2 November to about 24 April. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Fort Wayne by month

Average weather in Fort Wayne over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (21.7–28.6 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-5.8 °C), February (-4.5 °C) and December (-3.1 °C). About 979 mm of rain falls in a year, on 131 days; May is the wettest month (108 mm) and November the driest (62 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January1.7-5.86910
February4.9-4.56910
March10.60.38911
April15.74.510413
May21.711.110813
June27.216.99512
July28.618.99713
August27.617.87511
September25.115648
October18.28.98011
November10.11.8629
December4.6-3.16710

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 3 October
Crocus3 October – 10 December
Daffodil3 October – 10 December
Garlic3 October – 10 December
Grape hyacinthby 3 October
Helleboreby 3 October
Hyacinth3 October – 10 December
Lilyby 3 October
Ornamental onionby 3 October
Peonyby 3 October
Saffronby 3 October
Snowdropby 3 October
Tulip3 October – 10 December
Wild garlicby 3 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).