Independence, Missouri planting calendar and frost dates
Independence is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 10 and the first fall frost around October 27, giving about 198 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 10
- Typical first frost
- October 27
- Frost-free season
- 198 days
Frost dates in Independence
Last spring frost
- March 29Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 26Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 14Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 8Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 198 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 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Independence, 2.4 miles SE 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 Independence
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, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, 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, 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: 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, hyacinths, 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, 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 Independence
All 7 of Independence's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Independence, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6a in 64016, and 6b in 64015, 64050, 64052, 64055, 64056, 64057.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64015 | 6b | Independence, 2.4 mi SE | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| 64016 | 6a | Independence, 2.4 mi SE | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| 64050 | 6b | Independence, 2.4 mi SE | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| 64052 | 6b | Independence, 2.4 mi SE | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| 64055 | 6b | Independence, 2.4 mi SE | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| 64056 | 6b | Independence, 2.4 mi SE | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| 64057 | 6b | Independence, 2.4 mi SE | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
Independence also supplies the frost dates for Blue Springs, so their planting calendars match Independence's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Independence
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 11 to 25 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Cilantro | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 4 to 11 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Onions | Dec 19 to Jan 30 | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| 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 20 to Apr 10 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 20 to 27 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 1 to 15 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 23 to Feb 13 | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Peas | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Feb 27 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 18 to Sep 22 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | — |
| Zinnias | May 6 to 13 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 15 to Nov 10 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 15 to Oct 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 15 to 29 |
Nearby cities
- Blue Springs, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 10
- Kansas City, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Lee's Summit, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 7
- Kansas City, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Overland Park, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Shawnee, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 16
Planting in MissouriAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Independence
Questions
When is the last frost in Independence?
Around April 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Independence. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 26.
What planting zone is Independence in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Independence?
Start seeds indoors March 11 to 25 and set plants out May 6 to 20.
When is the first frost in Independence?
Around October 27 in a typical year, and before October 14 about 1 year in 10.