Frost dates & planting calendar for Kansas City, MO
Frost dates
Apr 4
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 20. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 2
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 21. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
211
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
6b
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: −5 to 0°F (−20.6 to −17.8°C).
Zone for ZIP 64124, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 6b means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 211 days. Station: Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO, 4 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Feb 23 to Mar 9, then plant them out from Apr 20 to May 4.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 20 in spring, Oct 21 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
February
The next window opens in February.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 9
- Start indoors
- Feb 9 – Feb 23
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 20 – May 4
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 9
- Start indoors
- Feb 9 – Feb 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 6 – Apr 20
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 9
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 20 – May 4
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 9
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 20 – May 4
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 9
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 9
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 9
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 6 – Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 30 – Apr 20
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 9
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 30 – Mar 30
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Feb 23
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 13 – Apr 20
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 23
- Start indoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 9
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
March
The next window opens in March.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 9
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 9 – Apr 6
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 9
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 9 – Apr 6
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 9
- Start indoors
- Mar 9 – Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 9
- Start indoors
- Mar 9 – Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 9
- Start indoors
- Mar 9 – Mar 23
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 23
- Start indoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 27
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 23
- Start indoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 27
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 23
- Start indoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 4
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 23
- Start indoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 4
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 4
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 23
- Start indoors
- Mar 23 – Mar 30
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 4
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 20
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 23
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 23 – Apr 6
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 30
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 30 – Mar 30
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 30
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 30 – Mar 30
- Sow for fall
- Jul 29 – Aug 12
April
The next window opens in April.
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 6 – Apr 20
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 6 – Apr 20
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 6 – Apr 20
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 6 – Apr 13
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 20
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 20
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 20 – Apr 20
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 27
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 27 – May 4
May
The next window opens in May.
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 4
- Sow outdoors
- May 4 – May 4
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 9
- Sow for fall
- Sep 9 – Sep 9
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Kansas City?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Kansas City is Apr 4. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 20.
- When is the first frost in Kansas City?
- The typical first fall frost is Nov 2. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 21.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Kansas City?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 23 and Mar 9, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Kansas City in?
- Kansas City is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 64124, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
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