When Is the Last Frost in Missouri?
The average last spring frost in Missouri falls between April 2 and April 19 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of April 11. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | Apr 4 | Apr 20 | Nov 2 | 211 days |
| St. Louis | Apr 1 | Apr 18 | Nov 4 | 218 days |
| Springfield | Apr 4 | Apr 20 | Oct 27 | 204 days |
| Columbia | Apr 5 | Apr 21 | Oct 31 | 207 days |
| Independence | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 27 | 198 days |
| Lee's Summit | Apr 7 | Apr 24 | Oct 29 | 202 days |
| O'Fallon | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 26 | 199 days |
| St. Charles | Apr 8 | Apr 24 | Oct 29 | 203 days |
| St. Joseph | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 17 | 180 days |
| St. Peters | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 26 | 198 days |
| Joplin | Apr 9 | Apr 26 | Oct 27 | 200 days |
| Jefferson City | Apr 10 | Apr 25 | Oct 26 | 198 days |
| Cape Girardeau | Apr 7 | Apr 22 | Oct 29 | 202 days |
| Sedalia | Apr 18 | May 2 | Oct 22 | 186 days |
| Arnold | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 26 | 197 days |
| Rolla | Apr 5 | Apr 22 | Nov 1 | 207 days |
| Warrensburg | Apr 14 | May 4 | Oct 21 | 189 days |
| Farmington | Apr 13 | Apr 30 | Oct 21 | 191 days |
| Sikeston | Mar 26 | Apr 9 | Nov 6 | 225 days |
| Maryville | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 17 | 180 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 171 Missouri weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from March 24 at Caruthersville, MO to April 27 at Rosebud, MO. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in Missouri?
The average first fall frost in Missouri arrives between October 17 and November 2 for most ZIP codes, with a median of October 25. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: Kansas City has a 10% chance of frost before October 21, St. Louis has a 10% chance of frost before October 24 and Springfield has a 10% chance of frost before October 15. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Missouri?
Transplant tomatoes in Missouri 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 11 – Apr 18 in Kansas City, Apr 8 – Apr 15 in St. Louis and Apr 11 – Apr 18 in Springfield. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | after Apr 20 |
| St. Louis | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | after Apr 18 |
| Springfield | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 18 | after Apr 20 |
| Columbia | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | after Apr 21 |
| Independence | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | after Apr 26 |
| Lee's Summit | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | after Apr 24 |
| O'Fallon | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | after Apr 26 |
| St. Charles | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 15 – Apr 22 | after Apr 24 |
| St. Joseph | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 3 | after May 3 |
| St. Peters | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | after Apr 25 |
| Joplin | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | after Apr 26 |
| Jefferson City | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | after Apr 25 |
| Cape Girardeau | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | after Apr 22 |
| Sedalia | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Apr 25 – May 2 | after May 2 |
| Arnold | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | after Apr 25 |
| Rolla | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | after Apr 22 |
| Warrensburg | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | after May 4 |
| Farmington | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | after Apr 30 |
| Sikeston | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | after Apr 9 |
| Maryville | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 3 | after May 3 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground.
What Can You Plant in Kansas City and When?
Kansas City's average last frost of April 4 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from February 21, broccoli and lettuce transplants from March 7, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after April 11.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Feb 21 – Mar 14direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Feb 28 – Mar 14direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Mar 7 – Mar 21transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Mar 7 – Mar 21transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Mar 7 – Mar 21direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Mar 14 – Mar 21direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 18transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Apr 11 – Apr 25transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – Apr 25transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – Apr 25transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 11 – Apr 25direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 25transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 11 – Apr 25transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Mar 7 – Mar 14 | Apr 18 – Apr 25transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for Kansas City (last frost Apr 4, NOAA station Kansas City Downtown AP, MO, 3 miles from ZIP 64124). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in Missouri?
The frost-free growing season in Missouri lasts about 180 to 215 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 196 days. Among the listed cities, St. Joseph has the shortest season at 180 days and Sikeston the longest at 225.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in Missouri range from 164 days at Steelville 2 N, MO to 230 days at Caruthersville, MO. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in Missouri?
Missouri spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 8a, with zone 6b the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The Missouri planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in Missouri?
- The average last spring frost in Missouri falls between April 2 and April 19 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of April 11. Among major cities it ranges from March 26 in Sikeston to April 19 in Maryville.
- When is the last frost in Kansas City, Missouri?
- Kansas City's average last spring frost is April 4, and by April 20 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages November 2, giving a 211-day growing season (NOAA station Kansas City Downtown AP, MO).
- When should you plant tomatoes in Missouri?
- Transplant tomatoes in Missouri 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 11 – Apr 18 in Kansas City, Apr 8 – Apr 15 in St. Louis and Apr 11 – Apr 18 in Springfield. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in Missouri?
- The average first fall frost in Missouri arrives between October 17 and November 2 for most ZIP codes, with a median of October 25. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in Missouri?
- The frost-free growing season in Missouri lasts about 180 to 215 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 196 days, from 180 days in St. Joseph to 225 days in Sikeston.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.