BUG: pd.Series.interpolate non-numeric index column (21662)
State: closed

- [x] closes #21662
- [x] tests added / passed
- [x] passes `git diff upstream/master -u -- "*.py" | flake8 --diff`

Raises a helpful exception when a non-numeric index is sent to ```interpolate``` with methods which require numeric index. Skipped a few methods which can also work on datetime index.


Labels:
name: Error Reporting
description: Incorrect or improved errors from pandas
name: Numeric Operations
description: Arithmetic, Comparison, and Logical operations

Comments:
Hello @TrigonaMinima! Thanks for updating this PR. We checked the lines you've touched for [PEP 8](https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008) issues, and found:





There are currently no PEP 8 issues detected in this Pull Request. Cheers! :beers: 

##### Comment last updated at 2019-03-24 19:04:39 UTC
# [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=h1) Report
> Merging [#25394](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=desc) into [master](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/commit/9c0f6a8d703b6bee48918f2c5d16418a7ff736e3?src=pr&el=desc) will **decrease** coverage by `50%`.
> The diff coverage is `0%`.

[![Impacted file tree graph](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/graphs/tree.svg?width=650&token=eZ4WkYLtcO&height=150&src=pr)](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=tree)

```diff
@@             Coverage Diff             @@
##           master   #25394       +/-   ##
===========================================
- Coverage   91.73%   41.72%   -50.01%     
===========================================
  Files         173      173               
  Lines       52845    52848        +3     
===========================================
- Hits        48479    22053    -26426     
- Misses       4366    30795    +26429
```

| Flag | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| #multiple | `?` | |
| #single | `41.72% <0%> (-0.01%)` | :arrow_down: |

| [Impacted Files](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=tree) | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| [pandas/core/generic.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZ2VuZXJpYy5weQ==) | `38.34% <0%> (-55.83%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/io/formats/latex.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2lvL2Zvcm1hdHMvbGF0ZXgucHk=) | `0% <0%> (-100%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/core/categorical.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvY2F0ZWdvcmljYWwucHk=) | `0% <0%> (-100%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/io/sas/sas\_constants.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2lvL3Nhcy9zYXNfY29uc3RhbnRzLnB5) | `0% <0%> (-100%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/tseries/plotting.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL3RzZXJpZXMvcGxvdHRpbmcucHk=) | `0% <0%> (-100%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/tseries/converter.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL3RzZXJpZXMvY29udmVydGVyLnB5) | `0% <0%> (-100%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/io/formats/html.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2lvL2Zvcm1hdHMvaHRtbC5weQ==) | `0% <0%> (-99.35%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/core/groupby/categorical.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZ3JvdXBieS9jYXRlZ29yaWNhbC5weQ==) | `0% <0%> (-95.46%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/io/sas/sas7bdat.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2lvL3Nhcy9zYXM3YmRhdC5weQ==) | `0% <0%> (-91.17%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/io/sas/sas\_xport.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2lvL3Nhcy9zYXNfeHBvcnQucHk=) | `0% <0%> (-90.15%)` | :arrow_down: |
| ... and [131 more](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree-more) | |

------

[Continue to review full report at Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=continue).
> **Legend** - [Click here to learn more](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/codecov-delta)
> `Δ = absolute <relative> (impact)`, `ø = not affected`, `? = missing data`
> Powered by [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=footer). Last update [9c0f6a8...f62894b](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=lastupdated). Read the [comment docs](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/pull-request-comments).

# [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=h1) Report
> Merging [#25394](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=desc) into [master](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/commit/2618b218eb4fad936310dcce011acc1b79e0ed96?src=pr&el=desc) will **increase** coverage by `<.01%`.
> The diff coverage is `100%`.

[![Impacted file tree graph](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/graphs/tree.svg?width=650&token=eZ4WkYLtcO&height=150&src=pr)](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=tree)

```diff
@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##           master   #25394      +/-   ##
==========================================
+ Coverage   91.47%   91.47%   +<.01%     
==========================================
  Files         173      173              
  Lines       52872    52876       +4     
==========================================
+ Hits        48364    48368       +4     
  Misses       4508     4508
```

| Flag | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| #multiple | `90.03% <100%> (ø)` | :arrow_up: |
| #single | `41.82% <16.66%> (-0.01%)` | :arrow_down: |

| [Impacted Files](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=tree) | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| [pandas/core/generic.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZ2VuZXJpYy5weQ==) | `93.54% <100%> (+0.01%)` | :arrow_up: |

------

[Continue to review full report at Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=continue).
> **Legend** - [Click here to learn more](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/codecov-delta)
> `Δ = absolute <relative> (impact)`, `ø = not affected`, `? = missing data`
> Powered by [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=footer). Last update [2618b21...d227f8a](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25394?src=pr&el=lastupdated). Read the [comment docs](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/pull-request-comments).

@jreback this PR is complete. I have rebased it with the master as well. The unsuccessful checks are because of the previous commits.
can you merge master
can you add a whatsnew note as well (bug fixes / numeric)
@jreback done
@jreback it's green now
thanks @TrigonaMinima