When to Plant in Kansas City, MO

Kansas City sits at the border of Missouri and Kansas — Zone 6a with a last frost typically around April 14. The city experiences true continental weather: hot, humid summers and cold winters with occasional ice storms.

Kansas City gardeners enjoy two productive growing seasons. Spring offers a good window from April through May before summer heat arrives, while fall from August through October is often the best season for cool-season crops.

What to plant now in Kansas City

Spring: After April 14 last frost — tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, cucumbers, and corn.
Early Spring (Mar–Apr): Cold-hardy crops — peas, lettuce, spinach, and broccoli transplants.
Fall: Often the best season — broccoli, kale, lettuce, carrots, and spinach.
Winter: Garlic overwintering, cover crops, and seed starting in February.

In Kansas City (185 frost-free days, a long season), 30 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 25 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.

Month by month in Kansas City

Month	What to do
January	Order seeds. Start onion seeds indoors late in the month.
February	Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors.
March	Direct sow peas, lettuce, and spinach. Transplant cold-hardy seedlings.
April	After April 5 — transplant tomatoes and peppers. Plant beans and squash.
May	Full warm-season garden. Plant cucumbers and corn.
June	Summer heat building. Water deeply and mulch.
July	Peak summer heat. Start fall seedlings indoors.
August	Plant fall broccoli and kale. Direct sow carrots and beets.
September	Fall planting: lettuce and spinach.
October	Fall garden producing. Plant garlic.
November	Harvest remaining crops. Protect cold-hardy greens.
December	Rest season. Plan next year.

Frost dates for Kansas City ZIP codes

ZIP	Last spring frost (50%)	First fall frost (50%)	Zone
64118	April 14	October 16	6b
64151	April 9	October 27	6b
64126	April 9	October 27	6b

FAQ

When is the last frost date in Kansas City, MO?

Kansas City's average last frost date is around April 14 — slightly earlier than the KC metro areas in Kansas due to the Missouri River valley's slight warming effect.

What grows best in Kansas City?

Tomatoes, peppers, squash, and beans do well in spring. Fall is often outstanding for broccoli, kale, lettuce, carrots, and spinach with warm days and cool nights.

Is fall better than spring in Kansas City?

Many KC gardeners prefer fall — temperatures moderate after summer, there are fewer pests, and cool-season crops produce abundantly from August through October.

How does Plan My Garden help Kansas City gardeners?

Enter your Kansas City zip code for exact planting dates tuned to the Missouri/Kansas border's growing calendar.