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
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
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
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
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
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
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
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
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
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
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.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lawrence
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 11 to 25 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 8 to 22 | Jul 23 to Aug 27 |
| Cilantro | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 4 to 11 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
| Onions | Dec 24 to Feb 4 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 18 to Mar 18 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 25 to Apr 15 | Jul 30 to Aug 20 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 1 to 15 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Peas | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Spinach | Mar 4 to 11 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 15 to May 6 | — |
| Zinnias | May 7 to 14 | Jun 4 to 18 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 10 to Nov 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 10 to Oct 22 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 4 to 18 | Sep 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Topeka, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 12
- Olathe, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Lenexa, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Shawnee, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Kansas City, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Overland Park, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
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.