Springfield, Missouri planting calendar and frost dates
Springfield is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 9 and the first fall frost around October 27, giving about 199 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 9
- Typical first frost
- October 27
- Frost-free season
- 199 days
Frost dates in Springfield
Last spring frost
- March 26Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 9Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 27Safe: 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 9Late: 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 30 and returns around November 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Springfield, 5.8 miles WNW 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 Springfield
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, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, 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, 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, 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, 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 Springfield
All 5 of Springfield's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Springfield, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6b in 65803, 65804, 65807, 65809, and 7a in 65802.
Planting dates for popular crops in Springfield
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| 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 8 to 22 | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 24 to 31 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Onions | Dec 18 to Jan 29 | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 8 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 19 to Apr 9 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 14 to 21 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 9 to 23 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| 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 | May 1 to 8 | May 29 to Jun 12 | — |
| 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
- Joplin, MO zone 7a, last frost Apr 9
- Rogers, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 12
- Bentonville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 8
- Springdale, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Fayetteville, AR zone 7a, last frost Apr 15
- Columbia, MO zone 6b, last frost Apr 5
Planting in MissouriAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Springfield
Questions
When is the last frost in Springfield?
Around April 9 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Springfield. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 27.
What planting zone is Springfield in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Springfield?
Start seeds indoors March 1 to 15 and set plants out April 26 to May 10; the safest date to plant out is after April 27.
When is the first frost in Springfield?
Around October 27 in a typical year, and before October 14 about 1 year in 10.