Growing Calendar

MenuClose

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

  1. January

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  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, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  6. June

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

  7. July

    Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, 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, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips

  10. 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

  11. November

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

  12. 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 codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
672037aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672047aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672057aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672067aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672077aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672087aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672097aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672117aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672127aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672137aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672147aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672157aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672167aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672177aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672187aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672197aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672207aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672267aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672307aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29
672357aWichita, 6.3 mi WSWApr 11Oct 29

Planting dates for popular crops in Wichita

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 3 to 17Apr 28 to May 12—
Strawberries—Feb 28 to Mar 14—
LettuceFeb 14 to 28Apr 4 to 18Jul 30 to Sep 3
CilantroFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 11 to 18—
BasilMar 10 to 24Apr 28 to May 5—
Potatoes—Mar 24 to 31—
Garlic—Feb 28 to Mar 14Oct 29 to Nov 12
OnionsDec 20 to Jan 31Mar 14 to 28—
CucumbersMar 31 to Apr 14Apr 28 to May 12—
PumpkinsMar 31 to Apr 14Apr 28 to May 12—
PeppersFeb 10 to Mar 10Apr 28 to May 12—
Carrots—Mar 21 to Apr 11Aug 6 to 27
Sweet Potatoes—May 12 to 19—
WatermelonsMar 24 to Apr 7Apr 28 to May 12—
Sweet Corn—Apr 11 to 25—
Green Beans—Apr 28 to May 12—
ZucchiniMar 31 to Apr 14Apr 28 to May 12—
BroccoliJan 24 to Feb 14Mar 14 to 28Aug 13 to Sep 10
Peas—Feb 28 to Mar 14Aug 6 to 20
SpinachFeb 28 to Mar 7Apr 4 to 18Aug 20 to Sep 24
Sunflowers—Apr 11 to May 2—
ZinniasApr 27 to May 4May 25 to Jun 8—
Tulips——Sep 17 to Nov 12
Daffodils——Sep 17 to Oct 29
Grass Seed—Feb 28 to Mar 14Sep 17 to Oct 1

Nearby cities

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.