Lenexa, Kansas planting calendar and frost dates
Lenexa is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 8 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 204 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 8
- Typical first frost
- October 29
- Frost-free season
- 204 days
Frost dates in Lenexa
Last spring frost
- March 23Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 23Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 11Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 204 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 March 30 and returns around November 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Olathe Johnson Co Exec Airport, 4.8 miles ESE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Lenexa shares this station with Olathe, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Lenexa
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
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, 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: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lenexa
Lenexa's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 4 in 66215 to April 8 in 66227. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66215 | 6b | Kansas City Downtown Airport, 1.8 mi NW | Apr 4 | Nov 2 |
| 66219 | 6b | Olathe Johnson Co Exec Airport, 4.8 mi ESE | Apr 8 | Oct 29 |
| 66220 | 6b | Olathe Johnson Co Exec Airport, 4.8 mi ESE | Apr 8 | Oct 29 |
| 66227 | 6b | Olathe Johnson Co Exec Airport, 4.8 mi ESE | Apr 8 | Oct 29 |
Olathe Johnson Co Exec Airport also supplies the frost dates for Olathe, so their planting calendars match Lenexa's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lenexa
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 8 to 22 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 11 to 25 | Apr 1 to 15 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Cilantro | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Mar 15 to 29 | May 3 to 10 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 30 to Apr 6 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Onions | Dec 17 to Jan 28 | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 5 to 19 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 5 to 19 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 15 to Mar 15 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 18 to Apr 8 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 5 to 19 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 21 to Feb 11 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Peas | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 8 to 29 | — |
| Zinnias | May 4 to 11 | Jun 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 17 to Nov 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 17 to Oct 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
Nearby cities
- Shawnee, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
- Olathe, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Overland Park, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Kansas City, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Kansas City, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Lee's Summit, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 7
Planting in KansasAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Lenexa
Questions
When is the last frost in Lenexa?
Around April 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Olathe Johnson Co Exec Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 23.
What planting zone is Lenexa 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 Lenexa?
Start seeds indoors March 8 to 22 and set plants out May 3 to 17.
When is the first frost in Lenexa?
Around October 29 in a typical year, and before October 15 about 1 year in 10.