Wichita, Kansas planting calendar and frost dates
Wichita is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 11 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 199 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 11
- Typical first frost
- October 29
- Frost-free season
- 199 days
Frost dates in Wichita
Last spring frost
- March 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 11Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 26Safe: 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 10Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 199 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 31 and returns around November 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Wichita, 6.3 miles WSW 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 Wichita
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, eggplants, 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, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
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, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, okra, 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 Wichita
All 20 of Wichita's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Wichita, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67203 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67204 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67205 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67206 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67207 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67208 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67209 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67211 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67212 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67213 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67214 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67215 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67216 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67217 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67218 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67219 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67220 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67226 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67230 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| 67235 | 7a | Wichita, 6.3 mi WSW | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Wichita
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 14 to 28 | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Cilantro | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Basil | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 24 to 31 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Onions | Dec 20 to Jan 31 | Mar 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 10 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 21 to Apr 11 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 11 to 25 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 28 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Peas | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Feb 28 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 11 to May 2 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 27 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 17 to Nov 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 17 to Oct 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
Nearby cities
- Enid, OK zone 7a, last frost Apr 6
- Stillwater, OK zone 7a, last frost Apr 3
- Manhattan, KS zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
- Topeka, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 12
- Tulsa, OK zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
- Edmond, OK zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
Planting in KansasAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Wichita
Questions
When is the last frost in Wichita?
Around April 11 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Wichita. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 26.
What planting zone is Wichita in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Wichita?
Start seeds indoors March 3 to 17 and set plants out April 28 to May 12.
When is the first frost in Wichita?
Around October 29 in a typical year, and before October 15 about 1 year in 10.