When to plant in Kansas
Most of Kansas sees its last spring frost between Apr 8 and Apr 28, and its first fall frost between Oct 14 and Oct 29. The middle of the state is around April 16 and October 22: that's what the dates below use.
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 13 | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 10 – Oct 2 | — |
| Pepper | Feb 27 | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 15 – Oct 7 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 25 – Aug 13 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 20 – Aug 29 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 1 – May 15 | Aug 4 – Sep 8 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 25 – Aug 6 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 4 – Jun 8 | Aug 2 – Aug 16 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 15 – Aug 12 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 3 – Jun 14 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 14 – May 26 | Sep 12 – Sep 26 |
| Kale | Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 13 – Aug 5 | Sep 11 – Sep 25 |
| Broccoli | Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 25 – Jun 29 | Aug 16 – Aug 30 |
| Cabbage | Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 28 – Jul 2 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jun 4 – Jul 16 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Beet | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 20 – Jul 1 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Radish | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Apr 6 – May 4 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Jun 20 – Jul 25 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 15 – Nov 5 (fall) | Jun 11 – Jul 2 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jun 24 – Jul 29 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 26 | May 7 – May 21 | Aug 15 – Sep 12 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 7 – May 21 | Jul 31 – Sep 4 | — |
| Basil | Mar 20 | May 1 – May 15 | May 31 – Sep 6 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | May 14 – Jun 11 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 20 – Aug 24 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Kansas. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Kansas
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawnee Mission | 6b | Apr 10 | Oct 29 |
| Wichita | 7a | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| Topeka | 6b | Apr 16 | Oct 22 |
| Kansas City | 6b | Apr 4 | Nov 2 |
| Lawrence | 6b | Apr 12 | Oct 28 |
| Manhattan | 6a | Apr 22 | Oct 20 |
| Olathe | 6b | Apr 10 | Oct 29 |
| Hutchinson | 6b | Apr 18 | Oct 21 |
| Arcadia | 7a | Apr 5 | Oct 28 |
| Liberal | 6b | Apr 20 | Oct 24 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.