Frost dates by state › Missouri
Missouri frost dates
Average last spring and first fall frost dates for Missouri’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.
Reviewed October 2026
Among Missouri’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Apr 1 in St. Louis to Apr 19 in St. Joseph. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.
| City | Average last spring frost | Average first fall frost | Frost-free days | Hardiness zone | Weather station used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | Apr 4 | Nov 2 | 212 | 6b–7a | Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO, 3 mi |
| St. Louis | Apr 1 | Nov 4 | 217 | 7a | St Louis Sci Ctr, MO |
| Springfield | Apr 4 | Oct 27 | 206 | 6b–7a | Springfield Wbo, MO |
| Columbia | Apr 5 | Oct 31 | 209 | 6b | Columbia U Of M, MO |
| Independence | Apr 10 | Oct 27 | 200 | 6b | Independence, MO, 2 mi |
| Lee's Summit | Apr 7 | Oct 29 | 205 | 6b | Lees Summit Muni Airport, MO, 3 mi |
| O'Fallon | Apr 10 | Oct 26 | 199 | 6b | Weldon Spring Nws, MO, 6 mi |
| St. Charles | Apr 8 | Oct 29 | 204 | 6b–7a | St Charles Elm Pt, MO |
| St. Joseph | Apr 19 | Oct 17 | 181 | 6a | St Joseph Rosecrans Airport, MO, 6 mi |
| St. Peters | Apr 9 | Oct 26 | 200 | 6b–7a | St Peters 2 Se, MO |
| Blue Springs | Apr 7 | Oct 29 | 205 | 6b | Lees Summit Muni Airport, MO, 7 mi |
| Joplin | Apr 9 | Oct 27 | 201 | 7a | Joplin Regional Airport, MO, 5 mi |
| Florissant | Apr 2 | Nov 4 | 216 | 6b–7a | St Louis Lambert Intl Airport, MO, 4 mi |
| Chesterfield | Apr 4 | Oct 29 | 208 | 6b–7a | St Charles 7 Ssw, MO, 3 mi |
| Wentzville | Apr 10 | Oct 26 | 199 | 6b | Weldon Spring Nws, MO, 13 mi |
| Jefferson City | Apr 8 | Oct 31 | 206 | 6b | Jefferson City Wtp, MO |
| Cape Girardeau | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 203 | 7a | Cape Girardeau Muni Airport, MO, 6 mi |
| Wildwood | Apr 12 | Oct 23 | 194 | 6b–7a | St Louis Sprt Of S L Airport, MO, 6 mi |
| University City | Apr 1 | Nov 4 | 217 | 7a | St Louis Sci Ctr, MO, 4 mi |
| Liberty | Apr 19 | Oct 17 | 181 | 6a–6b | Kearney 3E, MO, 10 mi |
Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.
An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.
Planting dates for Kansas City
Timed from Kansas City’s average last frost of Apr 4, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 14 to Feb 28 | Apr 11 to Apr 18 |
| Peppers | Feb 7 to Feb 21 | Apr 18 |
| Lettuce | Jan 31 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to Mar 14 |
| Broccoli | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to Mar 21 |
| Cucumbers | Mar 14 to Mar 21 | Apr 11 to Apr 18 |
| Basil | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 18 |
When to plant, for your garden
Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.
Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.
More about frost dates
How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors
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