Joplin, Missouri planting calendar and frost dates
Joplin is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 9 and the first fall frost around October 27, giving about 200 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7a
- Typical last frost
- April 9
- Typical first frost
- October 27
- Frost-free season
- 200 days
Frost dates in Joplin
Last spring frost
- March 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 9Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 26Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 9Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 200 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 29 and returns around November 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Joplin Regional Airport, 8.8 miles N 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 Joplin
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, tomatoes
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, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, 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, 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 Joplin
All 3 of Joplin's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Joplin Regional Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Joplin
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 12 to 26 | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Cilantro | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Basil | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 21 to 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Onions | Dec 18 to Jan 29 | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 6 to Mar 6 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 19 to Apr 9 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 9 to 23 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 22 to Feb 12 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Peas | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Aug 18 to Sep 22 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 9 to 30 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 30 to May 7 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 15 to Nov 10 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 15 to Oct 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Sep 15 to 29 |
Nearby cities
- Bentonville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 8
- Rogers, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 12
- Springdale, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Springfield, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 9
- Fayetteville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Broken Arrow, OK zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
Planting in MissouriAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Joplin
Questions
When is the last frost in Joplin?
Around April 9 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Joplin Regional Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 26.
What planting zone is Joplin 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 Joplin?
Start seeds indoors February 27 to March 13 and set plants out April 24 to May 8; the safest date to plant out is after April 26.
When is the first frost in Joplin?
Around October 27 in a typical year, and before October 12 about 1 year in 10.