Grow with confidence

Gary Vegetable Planting Calendar

Use Gary frost dates to see this week’s garden tasks and a local crop-by-crop planting calendar for Lake County and nearby communities.

See What to Plant NowView Planting Dates
USDA Zone 6aGary-area gardens are generally in USDA Zone 6a
May 17Average last spring freeze at Gary
October 2Average first fall freeze—about a 138-day season
Early spring

Hardy crops first

Peas, spinach, radishes, onions and other hardy crops can begin several weeks before the average last freeze when soil is workable.

Late spring

Wait for warm soil

Plant tomatoes and beans after frost danger declines. Give peppers, cucumbers, squash and melons additional warmth.

Late summer

Plant the fall garden

Restart fast cool-season crops in August so they mature before short days and repeated freezes arrive.

Local dates, crop by crop

Gary Planting Dates

Choose a season and search for a crop to see when to start seeds indoors, move plants outside, direct sow and finish planting in the Gary area.

Gary–Lake CountyUSDA Zone 6a · average last freeze May 17 · first freeze typically October 2

Spring planting

Planting Dates for Spring

Dates use Gary frost timing. Always check soil temperature and the 10-day forecast before planting.

Crop Start seeds indoors Transplant or plant outdoors Direct sow outdoors Last recommended planting Shop

Use the dates with confidence

How to Read This Calendar

1

Start indoors

Sow in trays under strong light. The window is timed so seedlings reach transplant size without becoming root-bound.

2

Transplant or plant

Harden seedlings off for about a week. Perennial crowns, sets and seed potatoes are included in this column.

3

Direct sow

Plant seed directly into prepared soil. Cool-season crops can begin before frost; heat-loving crops need warm soil.

4

Last planting

This is the practical end of the selected window—not a guarantee. Variety maturity and unusual weather can move it.

Gary soil checkpoints

Let Soil Temperature Be the Final Check

Calendar dates start the conversation. A simple soil thermometer helps confirm that the seedbed is actually ready.

40–50°FPeas, spinach, radishes and other hardy crops
55–60°FBeans, corn and many moderately warm crops
65°F+Cucumbers, squash, melons, okra and other heat lovers
Current Gary soil temperatureLoading…Modeled near 2½ inches deep
Checking current conditions

Use this modeled reading as a local reference, then confirm conditions in your own garden with a soil thermometer.

Weather data by Open-Meteo

Selected for the current planting window

Seeds to Plant Now

References: Purdue Extension HO-186-W, Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar; Purdue Extension HO-14-W, Starting Seeds Indoors; Purdue Extension HO-66-W, The Fall Vegetable Garden; National Weather Service Indianapolis climate information; and Open-Meteo modeled soil-temperature data. Dates and live conditions are planning estimates, not guarantees.