Lee's Summit, Missouri planting calendar and frost dates
Lee's Summit is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 7 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 202 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6b
- Typical last frost
- April 7
- Typical first frost
- October 29
- Frost-free season
- 202 days
Frost dates in Lee's Summit
Last spring frost
- March 21Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 7Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 24Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 14Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 12Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 202 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 28 and returns around November 7.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lees Summit Muni Airport, 3.4 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 Lee's Summit
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, 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, 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, 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, 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 Lee's Summit
All 5 of Lee's Summit's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Lees Summit Muni Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64063 | 6b | Lees Summit Muni Airport, 3.4 mi N | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| 64064 | 6b | Lees Summit Muni Airport, 3.4 mi N | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| 64081 | 6b | Lees Summit Muni Airport, 3.4 mi N | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| 64082 | 6b | Lees Summit Muni Airport, 3.4 mi N | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| 64086 | 6b | Lees Summit Muni Airport, 3.4 mi N | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Lee's Summit
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 6 to 20 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 10 to 24 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Cilantro | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Basil | Mar 13 to 27 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Onions | Dec 16 to Jan 27 | Mar 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 3 to 17 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 3 to 17 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 13 to Mar 13 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 17 to Apr 7 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 16 to 23 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 3 to 17 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 20 to Feb 10 | Mar 10 to 24 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Peas | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Feb 24 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 7 to 28 | — |
| Zinnias | May 2 to 9 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 17 to Nov 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 17 to Oct 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
Nearby cities
- Blue Springs, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 10
- Independence, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 10
- Overland Park, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Kansas City, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 4
- Lenexa, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Olathe, KS zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
Planting in MissouriAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Lee's Summit
Questions
When is the last frost in Lee's Summit?
Around April 7 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lees Summit Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 24.
What planting zone is Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit?
Start seeds indoors March 6 to 20 and set plants out May 1 to 15.
When is the first frost in Lee's Summit?
Around October 29 in a typical year, and before October 14 about 1 year in 10.