When is the last frost in Kansas City, MO?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Kansas City is April 13, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until April 29.

When is the first frost in Kansas City?

The average first fall frost in Kansas City is October 24, with a growing season of about 193 days.

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Kansas City, Missouri frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 13. Average first fall frost: October 24. That gives a growing season of about 193 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is April 29, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Apr 13

1-in-10 risk after Apr 29

First frost (50%)

Oct 24

1-in-10 risk before Oct 9

Growing season

193 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Apr 1

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	March 30	November 5
70%	April 6	October 29
50%	April 13	October 24
30%	April 20	October 18
10%	April 29	October 9

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after April 29. These are NOAA probabilities for the Kansas City International Airport weather station (USW00003947, elevation 306 m), 1991–2020.

Kansas City vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 13). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (Apr 29) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Mar 23	Apr 20 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Feb 2	Mar 16
Brussels sprouts	Feb 2	Mar 16
Cabbage	Jan 26	Mar 9
Cauliflower	Feb 16	Mar 30
Sweet corn	Mar 16	Apr 13 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Mar 30	Apr 20
Kale	Jan 26	Mar 9
Leeks	Dec 29	Mar 9
Lettuce	Feb 23	Mar 30
Melons	Apr 6	Apr 27
Onions	Dec 22	Mar 2 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Feb 16	Mar 16 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Mar 2	Apr 27
Squash	Apr 6	Apr 27
Tomatoes	Feb 16	Apr 13

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 24. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 9. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around November 1.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Topeka, KS	Apr 12	Oct 23	~81 km
Lincoln, NE	Apr 24	Oct 13	~244 km
Omaha, NE	Apr 18	Oct 21	~245 km
Springfield, MO	Apr 9	Oct 27	~256 km
Des Moines, IA	Apr 18	Oct 20	~265 km
Wichita, KS	Apr 11	Oct 29	~296 km

More: all Missouri frost dates