Kansas City, Missouri Frost Dates, Growing Season & Hardiness Zone

When is the last frost in Kansas City?

The typical last 32°F night is Apr 4, and in 1 year out of 10 a freeze still comes after Apr 20. Cold 36°F nights (frost possible on plants) typically last longer, to around Apr 15. The last hard freeze (28°F) typically comes earlier, around Mar 26.

In Kansas City, late frosts can come well after the typical date. The safer 1-in-10 date (Apr 20) is 16 days after the typical date (Apr 4). Tender plants set out early will need cover on cold nights.

Cold nights don't end with the last freeze. The typical last 36°F night (frost possible on plants in low spots) comes around Apr 15, 11 days after the typical last 32°F night. On clear, calm nights, frost can form on leaves while the thermometer still reads above freezing.

Of the 11 eligible stations near Kansas City, ours has the earliest typical last frost. In a colder pocket, plan closer to Apr 20.

Is it too early to plant in Kansas City?

Before Apr 4 the odds of another 32°F night are better than even; after Apr 20 they are about 1 in 10 or less.

Today's risk is computed in your browser from the same NOAA probability table, shown as the range between the two nearest NOAA probability levels.

When is the first frost in Kansas City?

Half of years get their first 32°F night by Nov 2. In 1 year out of 10, it arrives as early as Oct 21. The first 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically comes around Oct 25, and the first 28°F hard freeze around Nov 11.

Fall plantings are timed backward from first frost: Nov 2 typically, or Oct 21 if you want a cushion. See the planting calendar for each crop's date.

How long is Kansas City's growing season?

A typical year in Kansas City has 211 days between the last spring and first fall 32°F nights. In about 1 year in 10, there are fewer than 191 days.

That's enough time for most warm-season vegetables if they go in on time. Long-season crops do best started from transplants.

Growing degree days measure the heat available for crops to grow. The station averages 4,531 a year (base 50°F).

How does Kansas City's season compare?

Nationwide, across the 56 cities with frost dates on this site, the typical frost-free season here outlasts the one in 28 of them and falls short of the one in 27.

Growing degree days (base 50°F)

Annual normal: 4,531 GDD (NOAA flag S, 25 years). Running total by the end of each month (sum of NOAA daily GDD normals, so the year-end total can differ slightly from the annual normal):

What growing zone is Kansas City? (USDA 2023)

The 2023 USDA map puts Kansas City in zone 6a–7a (-10 to 5°F average coldest winter night); on the 2012 map, most of it was 6a. How the 51 ZIPs listed in both tables changed: 2 moved up a full zone, 42 moved up half a zone and 7 stayed the same.

Zones: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 2026-10-08. Shown as published in the ZIP tables; this page does not show a zone map. Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov).

Does the new zone change Kansas City's frost dates?

No. A hardiness zone reflects only the average coldest winter temperature, not the timing of spring or fall frost. Kansas City's frost dates come from NOAA's 1991–2020 frost probabilities, and the 2023 zone map didn't change them. Pick perennials that survive winter by zone; time your planting by frost dates.

Why do Kansas City frost dates differ between websites?

You may see Apr 10 given as Kansas City's last frost date. That's the 30%-risk date, meaning about 3 years in 10 still have a 32°F night after it. Our headline date is Apr 4, the 50% (median) date.

Apr 20 is the 10%-risk, or 'safer', date. Only about 1 year in 10 has a 32°F night after it.

You may also see Apr 15. That's the 50% date for a 36°F night (frost possible on plants) rather than a 32°F freeze, so sites using 36°F as their cutoff list later dates.

Sites also pick different weather stations. Within 25 miles of the city center, the 11 stations that meet our quality rules put the typical (50%) last 32°F frost anywhere from Apr 4 to Apr 19 (table below).

Which weather station is this based on?

Station

Kansas City Downtown Airport (NOAA USW00013988, WBAN/ASOS-AWOS)

Distance

2.5 mi W of the city center

Elevation

742 ft; city center 742 ft (USGS), difference +0 ft

Record

NOAA completeness flag S, 29 of 30 years (1991–2020)

Confidence

High (rule)

Confidence: High. The station is close (2.5 miles from the city center), its elevation differs by just 0 ft, and its frost statistics meet our completeness rule (NOAA flag S, 29 of 30 years).

Kansas City planting dates at a glance

Balanced dates use the 30%-risk last-frost date as the anchor. The Kansas City planting calendar has typical and safe dates, fall planting and a month-by-month list for 26 vegetables.

When to plant tomatoes in Kansas City · Fall planting dates for Kansas City

Frost dates near Kansas City

All Missouri cities

Frequently asked questions

What is the average last frost date in Kansas City?

Based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals at Kansas City Downtown Airport, Kansas City's typical last 32°F night is Apr 4. That's the median (50%) date. For a safer target, go with Apr 20, after which a freeze comes in only about 1 year in 10.

When is the first frost in Kansas City?

Typically by Nov 2 for the first 32°F night, though about 1 year in 10 it comes as early as Oct 21. The first 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically shows up around Oct 25.

What growing zone is Kansas City, Missouri?

Kansas City is in USDA hardiness zone 6a–7a on the current 2023 map. On the older 2012 map, most of the city was 6a, so older references may list that zone.

Is it too early to plant in Kansas City?

If it's before Apr 4, it's too early for frost-tender plants: another 32°F night is more likely than not. From Apr 4 to Apr 20, the risk falls from 50% to 10%. Cool-season crops such as peas and lettuce can be planted weeks earlier (see the planting calendar).

What temperature is a killing frost?

For tender crops like tomatoes, a light frost is a killing frost. CSU Extension calls 28–32°F a light frost and below 28°F a heavy frost. Our NOAA odds cover three thresholds: 36°F (frost possible on plants), 32°F (freeze, our headline) and 28°F (hard freeze).

Is first frost the same as first freeze?

Not quite. A freeze is when the air reaches 32°F. Frost is ice that forms on surfaces, and on calm, clear nights it can form with the air a few degrees above freezing. So in Kansas City, the first 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically comes around Oct 25, before the first 32°F night (Nov 2).

Download & sources

• Add Kansas City frost & planting dates to your calendar (.ics, 2027)
• Printable planting calendar (PDF)
• How these numbers are calculated

Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal and daily normals, station USW00013988); USDA Plant Hardiness Zone ZIP tables 2023 and 2012 by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; Census 2020 ZIP/place relationship file; USGS elevation. Long-term odds, not a forecast. Figures and sentences are generated from these data by fixed rules; see the methodology. Last updated 2026-10-08.