frost date questions

[M4rg4rit4]

My sister has been enthusiastic about plants for a couple of months. She's got all these seedlings she started indoors, and they're getting huge!
She was reading about frost date and is now getting conflicting info on when our last frost date is, and she's not sure when she can safely move her hot pepper babies outside for good.

She's in Indiana, does anyone know when is a good time for planting? Is there anything we can do to get ready for the frost date? Any insights are welcome!

 

[OutChiliMe]

Indiana is a pretty big state, so the last frost date is going to vary a lot depending on where she is. Tell her to do a quick search for the USDA hardiness zone map and find where she's located on the map. That will give her a much better idea of her last frost date. Then once she knows her date, the most important thing she can do to get ready is to start hardening off her seedlings. This is a critical step before moving them outside permanently. She should start by putting them outside in a protected, shady spot for just an hour or two a day, then gradually increase the time and exposure to direct sun over a week or two. This gets them used to the sun, wind, and temperature swings so they don't get shocked when they're finally planted. Good luck!

 

[_Jelooo]

Before planting, have her check out the 10-day forecast to avoid any late frosts. In the morning, she should stick her finger about 2" into the soil, it should feel warm. Also, the local extension office usually has the lowdown on your county's weather data.