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Wichita, Kansas frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 11. Average first fall frost: October 29. That gives a growing season of about 199 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is April 26, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.
Last frost (50%)
Apr 11
1-in-10 risk after Apr 26
First frost (50%)
Oct 29
1-in-10 risk before Oct 15
Growing season
199 days
median frost-free days
Hard freeze (28°F)
Mar 31
median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frostSpring: frost afterFall: frost before
90%March 25November 10
70%April 4November 2
50%April 11October 29
30%April 18October 23
10%April 26October 15

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after April 26. These are NOAA probabilities for the Wichita weather station (USW00003928, elevation 407 m), 1991–2020.

Wichita vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 11). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (Apr 26) is the cautious choice.

CropStart seeds indoorsPlant out
BeansMar 21Apr 18 (usually sown directly in the garden)
BroccoliJan 31Mar 14
Brussels sproutsJan 31Mar 14
CabbageJan 24Mar 7
CauliflowerFeb 14Mar 28
Sweet cornMar 14Apr 11 (usually sown directly in the garden)
CucumbersMar 28Apr 18
KaleJan 24Mar 7
LeeksDec 27Mar 7
LettuceFeb 21Mar 28
MelonsApr 4Apr 25
OnionsDec 20Feb 28 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
PeasFeb 14Mar 14 (usually sown directly in the garden)
PeppersFeb 28Apr 25
SquashApr 4Apr 25
TomatoesFeb 14Apr 11

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 29. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 15. 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 6.

Nearby cities

CityLast frost (50%)First frost (50%)Distance
Tulsa, OKMar 31Nov 4~212 km
Topeka, KSApr 12Oct 23~224 km
Oklahoma City, OKApr 4Nov 2~252 km
Kansas City, MOApr 13Oct 24~300 km
Springfield, MOApr 9Oct 27~358 km
Lincoln, NEApr 24Oct 13~360 km

More: all Kansas frost dates