What to plant this week in Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis gardeners are officially past the average last frost date of April 21, signaling that the ground is ready for cold-hardy crops like garlic and transplants such as basil, beans, and cucumbers. With nighttime lows hovering just above zero and temperatures rising toward the upper 70s during the day, it is time to push those seedlings out into the Indiana soil.
The next 7 days
Indianapolis, INGrowing in Indianapolis right now
- Watch for heavy afternoon thunderstorms common in central Indiana; use row covers or bring pots inside quickly if a storm front moves through unexpectedly.
- The local clay-heavy soil often becomes hard and cracked after winter rain cycles; amend planting holes with compost to ensure proper drainage for young beans and melons.
- Indianapolis summers can get hot fast, so provide afternoon shade cloth for heat-sensitive crops like fennel and basil to prevent bolting before harvest.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and cucumbers every two weeks for continuous harvests through August.
- Mulch heavily around young transplants and newly planted garlic to retain moisture as daytime temperatures rise.
- Pinch back the tips of bush beans and zucchini plants once they reach 6 inches to encourage branching and heavier fruit production.
Pest & disease watch
- Cutworms are actively cutting down seedling stems of beans and tomatoes as soil temperatures warm up above 50°F.
- Cucumber beetles may be spotted on early squash and melon vines, looking for the characteristic yellow-and-black striped damage.
- Late-season aphid outbreaks can appear rapidly on new growth of zinnias and cosmos during these humid spring nights.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases.
Harvest zucchini and summer squash frequently when they are small (6 inches) to signal the plant to keep producing fruit.
Indianapolis gardening questions
3Can I plant garlic now in Indianapolis despite recent rain?
Yes, this is still within the optimal window for planting garlic before the ground freezes hard again. Choose a well-drained spot to prevent rotting in our clay soils, and water lightly after planting if the soil isn't already damp.
When should I harvest my first bush beans or pole beans planted earlier?
You can expect your first pods ready for picking about 50 to 60 days after seeding, which aligns perfectly with current temperatures. Check the 'harvest soon' list and look for plump, immature pods that haven't started turning yellow yet.
Is it safe to transplant my zinnias and cosmos outdoors today?
Absolutely; since we are past the average last frost date of April 21, these heat-loving annuals will thrive in full sun. Harden them off for a few days first if they were started indoors, then place them where they won't be splashed by sudden spring rains.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Indianapolis garden in SproutGuide →