Kansas City, KS planting zone & frost dates
Kansas City is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 4 and the first fall frost around November 2, for a growing season of about 211 days.
Planting calendar for Kansas City
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 4) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Feb 7 – Feb 21 Transplant outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 24 – Feb 7 Transplant outdoors: Apr 18 – Apr 25 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 24 – Feb 7 Transplant outdoors: Apr 18 – Apr 25 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 24 – Feb 7 Transplant outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 24 – Feb 7 Transplant outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 21 – Mar 7 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 21 – Mar 7 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 21 – Mar 7 Transplant outdoors: Apr 11 – Apr 18 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 7 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 2).
Useful for zone 6b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Mar 17 | Apr 4 | Apr 20 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 16 | Nov 2 | Oct 21 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 20, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 21. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 26.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Kansas City
- 66101 zone 6b
- 66102 zone 6b
- 66103 zone 6b
- 66104 zone 6b
- 66105 zone 7a
- 66106 zone 6b
- 66109 zone 6b
- 66110 zone 6b
- 66111 zone 6b
- 66112 zone 6b
- 66115 zone 6b
- 66117 zone 6b
- 66118 zone 7a
- 66119 zone 6b
Nearby cities
- Merriam zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Shawnee zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Prairie Village zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Overland Park zone 6b, last frost Apr 10
- Leawood zone 6b, last frost Apr 10
- Lenexa zone 6b, last frost Apr 10
- Olathe zone 6b, last frost Apr 10
- Lansing zone 6b, last frost Apr 19
Questions
What growing zone is Kansas City, KS?
Kansas City is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average extreme winter low -5°F to 0°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zone 7a.
When is the last frost in Kansas City?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Kansas City is April 4. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 20.
When can I plant tomatoes in Kansas City?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 11 – Apr 18. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Kansas City Downtown Ap, MO (USW00013988), 2.7 km (1.7 mi) from the city center, elevation 226 m, based on 29 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.