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Lawrence, Kansas planting calendar and frost dates

Lawrence is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 15 and the first fall frost around October 22, giving about 189 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6b
Typical last frost
April 15
Typical first frost
October 22
Frost-free season
189 days

Frost dates in Lawrence

Last spring frost

  • April 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • April 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • October 7Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 22Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • November 3Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 189 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 5 and returns around November 1.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Clinton Lake, 2.7 miles S of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.

What to plant each month in Lawrence

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

  2. February

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons

  3. March

    Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes

    Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  4. April

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips

  5. May

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. July

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

  11. November

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

  12. December

    Start indoors: onions

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lawrence

Lawrence's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 15 in 66045 to April 21 in 66044. Every one of them is in zone 6b.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
660446bLawrence Muni Airport, 1.7 mi SApr 21Oct 17
660456bClinton Lake, 4.3 mi WSWApr 15Oct 22
660466bClinton Lake, 7.4 mi WNWApr 15Oct 22
660476bClinton Lake, 3.3 mi NApr 15Oct 22
660496bClinton Lake, 2.7 mi SApr 15Oct 22

Planting dates for popular crops in Lawrence

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 11 to 25May 6 to 20—
Strawberries—Mar 4 to 18—
LettuceFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to 22Jul 23 to Aug 27
CilantroMar 4 to 18Apr 15 to 22—
BasilMar 18 to Apr 1May 6 to 13—
Potatoes—Apr 4 to 11—
Garlic—Mar 4 to 18Oct 22 to Nov 5
OnionsDec 24 to Feb 4Mar 18 to Apr 1—
CucumbersApr 8 to 22May 6 to 20—
PumpkinsApr 8 to 22May 6 to 20—
PeppersFeb 18 to Mar 18May 6 to 20—
Carrots—Mar 25 to Apr 15Jul 30 to Aug 20
Sweet Potatoes—May 20 to 27—
WatermelonsApr 1 to 15May 6 to 20—
Sweet Corn—Apr 15 to 29—
Green Beans—May 6 to 20—
ZucchiniApr 8 to 22May 6 to 20—
BroccoliJan 28 to Feb 18Mar 18 to Apr 1Aug 6 to Sep 3
Peas—Mar 4 to 18Jul 30 to Aug 13
SpinachMar 4 to 11Apr 8 to 22Aug 13 to Sep 17
Sunflowers—Apr 15 to May 6—
ZinniasMay 7 to 14Jun 4 to 18—
Tulips——Sep 10 to Nov 5
Daffodils——Sep 10 to Oct 22
Grass Seed—Mar 4 to 18Sep 10 to 24

Nearby cities

Planting in KansasAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Lawrence

Questions

When is the last frost in Lawrence?

Around April 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Clinton Lake. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 1.

What planting zone is Lawrence in?

USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Lawrence?

Start seeds indoors March 11 to 25 and set plants out May 6 to 20.

When is the first frost in Lawrence?

Around October 22 in a typical year, and before October 7 about 1 year in 10.