When to plant in Missouri
Most of Missouri sees its last spring frost between Apr 1 and Apr 19, and its first fall frost between Oct 18 and Nov 3. The middle of the state is around April 10 and October 25: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Missouri: 5b (3%), 6a (19%), 6b (45%), 7a (27%), 7b (5%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jul 6 – Sep 28 | — |
| Pepper | Feb 23 | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jul 11 – Oct 3 | — |
| Cucumber | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jun 21 – Aug 9 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jun 16 – Aug 25 | — |
| Winter squash | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jul 31 – Sep 4 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jun 21 – Aug 2 | — |
| Peas | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 28 – Jun 2 | Aug 5 – Aug 19 |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jul 11 – Aug 8 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Apr 27 – Jun 8 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| Spinach | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 8 – May 20 | Sep 15 – Sep 29 |
| Kale | Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 7 – Jul 30 | Sep 14 – Sep 28 |
| Broccoli | Feb 6 | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 19 – Jun 23 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 |
| Cabbage | Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 22 – Jun 26 | Aug 16 – Aug 30 |
| Carrot | — | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 29 – Jul 10 | Aug 16 – Aug 30 |
| Beet | — | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 14 – Jun 25 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Radish | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | Sep 16 – Sep 30 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | Jun 14 – Jul 19 | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 18 – Nov 8 (fall) | Jun 5 – Jun 26 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | Jun 18 – Jul 23 | — |
| Sweet potato | Mar 20 | May 1 – May 15 | Aug 9 – Sep 6 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 25 – Aug 29 | — |
| Basil | Mar 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 | May 27 – Sep 2 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Mar 20 – Apr 3 | May 8 – Jun 5 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jul 16 – Aug 20 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Missouri. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Missouri
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 6b | Apr 10 | Oct 29 |
| Saint Louis | 7a | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| Springfield | 6b | Apr 4 | Oct 27 |
| Jefferson City | 6b | Apr 8 | Oct 31 |
| Independence | 6b | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| Columbia | 6b | Apr 5 | Oct 31 |
| Saint Joseph | 6a | Apr 19 | Oct 17 |
| Lees Summit | 6b | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| Ballwin | 7a | Apr 4 | Oct 29 |
| Florissant | 7a | Apr 2 | Nov 4 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.