Yard Materials Calculator
Menu

Garden Planner

Type your ZIP code. See your frost dates and when to plant each vegetable.

1Your ZIP code

Zone 6b

2How careful?

Which frost dates

Average: half of years have a frost later in spring. Safe: only 1 year in 10 does.

Know your own frost dates?
Last spring frost
First fall frost

Fill in all four to use your dates instead of the ZIP code's.

Your frost dates

Apr 21last spring frost
Oct 17first fall frost
  • 179days with no frost
  • 6bUSDA zone
  • 1mile to the station
  • In half of years, the last spring frost comes after April 21.
  • The first fall frost comes around October 17.
  • From the weather station at Lawrence Muni Ap, KS, 1 mile away.
  • That gives you about 179 days with no frost.
  • Want fewer surprises? Pick Play it safe.

Last frost Apr 21Answer

Your planting calendar

Dates are the earliest times to plant. You can plant later too.

VegetableStart insidePlant outsideFirst picking JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Hardy: plant 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost

Broccoli Feb 3–Mar 3 Mar 24–Apr 7 May 28–Jun 11
Cabbage Feb 3–Mar 3 Mar 24–Apr 7 Jun 17–Jul 1
Kohlrabi – Mar 24–Apr 7 May 13–May 27
Lettuce, leaf – Mar 24–Apr 7 May 23–Jun 6
Green onions – Mar 24–Apr 7 May 23–Jun 6
Onions, dry, from sets – Mar 24–Apr 7 Jul 12–Jul 26
Peas – Mar 24–Apr 7 May 28–Jun 11
Radishes – Mar 24–Apr 7 Apr 23–May 7
Spinach – Mar 24–Apr 7 May 3–May 17
Turnips – Mar 24–Apr 7 May 13–May 27

Semi-hardy: plant 0 to 2 weeks before the last frost

Beets – Apr 7–Apr 21 Jun 6–Jun 20
Carrots – Apr 7–Apr 21 Jun 16–Jun 30
Cauliflower Feb 17–Mar 17 Apr 7–Apr 21 –
Parsnips – Apr 7–Apr 21 Jun 16–Jun 30
Potatoes – Apr 7–Apr 21 Aug 10–Aug 24
Swiss chard – Apr 7–Apr 21 Jun 6–Jun 20

Tender: plant around the last frost

Beans, snap – Apr 21 Jun 20
Sweet corn – Apr 21 Jun 20–Jul 20
Cucumbers – Apr 21 Jun 15
Summer squash – Apr 21 Jun 10

Very tender: plant 2 weeks or more after the last frost

Tomatoes Mar 17–Mar 31 May 5 Jul 9
Peppers Mar 10–Mar 24 May 5 Jul 14
Eggplant Mar 3–Mar 24 May 5 Jul 4
Cantaloupe – May 5 Jul 29
Watermelon – May 5 Jul 29
Winter squash – May 5 Aug 13

Timing: Colorado State Extension, GardenNotes #720. Days to picking are typical; your seed packet may differ.

What the frost dates mean

Your last spring frost is the last night of the year that drops to 32°F. Your first fall frost is the first one after summer.

These dates come from 30 years of weather, 1991 to 2020. We use the weather station closest to the middle of your ZIP code.

The average date is not a promise. In half of years, frost comes later in spring. Pick Play it safe to use a date that is late enough in 9 years out of 10.

Hardy or tender?

Hardy vegetables, like peas, lettuce and spinach, can take a little frost. Plant them 2 to 4 weeks before your last frost.

Semi-hardy ones, like carrots, beets and potatoes, go in 0 to 2 weeks before it.

Tender ones, like beans, corn and cucumbers, go in around the last frost.

Very tender ones, like tomatoes, peppers and melons, need warm days. Wait 2 weeks or more after the last frost.

Colorado State Extension, Vegetable Planting Guide.

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes?

About 2 weeks after your last spring frost. Start the seeds inside 5 to 7 weeks before that, or buy plants.

What is my growing zone?

Type your ZIP code above. The zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. It is about winter cold, so it tells you which plants live through winter. Frost dates tell you when to plant.

Can I plant before the last frost?

Yes, for hardy vegetables like peas, spinach and lettuce. Wait on tomatoes, peppers, squash and beans.

Will my plan be saved?

Tap Save to keep it in this browser. Tap Print for a paper copy of your calendar.

Sources

Related calculators

All calculators