Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Joplin

United States

In Joplin the last spring frost usually comes around 30 March and the first autumn frost around 1 November, which leaves about 216 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 11 April to 12 July.

Last spring frostaround 30 March
First autumn frostaround 1 November
Frost-free days216 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Joplin?

The last frost in Joplin usually comes around 30 March: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 9 March, while corn waits until 6 April. The first autumn frost follows around 1 November, about 216 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha4 February – 24 July16 March – 2 September6 April – 2 September
Ageratumfrom 24 January—from 11 April
Arugula——sow 9 March – 27 September
Basil7 March – 30 August14 April – 7 October5 May – 7 October
Beet——sow 9 March – 2 September
Bell Pepper13 February – 13 May14 April – 12 July5 May – 12 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 13 January—from 6 April
Bok Choy9 February – 10 September16 March – 15 October6 April – 15 October
Borage——sow 6 April – 7 September
Broad bean——sow 9 March – 24 July
Broccoli——sow 9 March – 17 July
Brussels Sprouts2 January – 14 June16 February – 29 July9 March – 29 July
Busy Lizziefrom 12 January—from 6 April
Cabbage——sow 9 March – 24 June
Calendula——sow from 9 March
Carrot——sow 9 March – 9 August
Cauliflower5 January – 17 July16 February – 28 August9 March – 28 August
Celeriac29 December – 14 May16 March – 30 July6 April – 30 July
Celery29 December – 24 May16 March – 9 August6 April – 9 August
Celosiafrom 14 Februaryfrom 31 Marchfrom 21 April
Chamomile——sow 9 March – 28 August
Chayote18 December – 7 May16 March – 3 August6 April – 3 August
Chickpea——sow 9 March – 14 July
Chicory22 January – 8 August—9 March – 2 September
Chili Pepper13 February – 19 June14 April – 18 August5 May – 18 August
China asterfrom 21 Februaryfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Chives——sow 9 March – 19 August
Cilantro——sow 9 March – 29 August
Corn——sow 6 April – 14 July
Corn poppy——sow from 9 March
Cosmosfrom 14 Februaryfrom 31 Marchfrom 21 April
Cucumber17 March – 20 July14 April – 17 August5 May – 17 August
Daikon——sow 9 March – 26 August
Delphiniumfrom 19 December—from 9 March
Dill——sow 9 March – 8 September
Edging lobeliafrom 12 January—from 6 April
Eggplant13 February – 13 May14 April – 12 July5 May – 12 July
Florence fennel30 January – 24 July16 March – 7 September6 April – 7 September
Foxglovefrom 1 December—from 9 March
Garden sorrel——sow 9 March – 27 August
Green Beans——sow 21 April – 22 July
Hollyhock——sow from 9 March
Hyssop——sow 9 March – 20 July
Kale——sow 9 March – 21 August
Kiwano17 February – 27 July21 March – 28 August11 April – 28 August
Kohlrabi——sow 9 March – 31 August
Leek8 December – 5 May16 February – 14 July9 March – 14 July
Lemon balm——sow 9 March – 23 August
Lettuce——sow 9 March – 5 September
Lisianthusfrom 21 Novemberfrom 16 Februaryfrom 9 March
Lovage——sow from 9 March
Luffa3 March – 21 May14 April – 2 July5 May – 2 July
Marigoldfrom 2 Februaryfrom 16 Marchfrom 6 April
Marjoram13 February – 8 August—5 May – 7 October
Melon17 March – 7 July14 April – 4 August5 May – 4 August
Microgreens——sow 21 April – 18 October
Moringa6 March – 13 August30 April – 7 October21 May – 7 October
Moss rosefrom 19 January—from 6 April
Mustard greens——sow 9 March – 17 September
Napa cabbage11 February – 18 August16 March – 20 September6 April – 20 September
Nasturtiumfrom 6 Februaryfrom 16 Marchfrom 6 April
Okra3 March – 1 August14 April – 12 September5 May – 12 September
Oregano18 December – 29 July16 February – 27 September9 March – 27 September
Pansyfrom 22 Decemberfrom 16 Februaryfrom 9 March
Parsley——sow 9 March – 17 August
Parsnip——sow 9 March – 6 July
Peanut8 March – 27 June14 April – 3 August5 May – 3 August
Peas——sow 9 March – 19 August
Petuniafrom 10 Februaryfrom 14 Aprilfrom 5 May
Physalis4 February – 24 June21 March – 8 August11 April – 8 August
Pumpkin3 March – 26 May14 April – 7 July5 May – 7 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 16 December—from 9 March
Radish——sow 9 March – 2 October
Sage29 December – 25 July16 February – 12 September9 March – 12 September
Scarlet sagefrom 28 January—from 11 April
Snapdragonfrom 13 Decemberfrom 16 Februaryfrom 9 March
Soybean——sow 5 May – 13 August
Spinach——sow 9 March – 7 September
Stevia31 January – 15 June21 March – 3 August11 April – 3 August
Stock——sow from 9 March
Sunflower——sow from 21 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 9 March
Sweet Corn22 February – 8 August16 March – 30 August6 April – 30 August
Sweet peafrom 5 Januaryfrom 16 Februaryfrom 9 March
Sweet William——sow from 9 March
Swiss Chard——sow 9 March – 2 September
Thyme——sow 9 March – 14 July
Tomato28 January – 21 May21 March – 12 July11 April – 12 July
Turnip——sow 9 March – 4 September
Watercress——sow 9 March – 15 September
Watermelon17 March – 25 June14 April – 23 July5 May – 23 July
Zinniafrom 26 Marchfrom 30 Aprilfrom 21 May
Zucchini24 March – 25 July14 April – 15 August5 May – 15 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Joplin

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 22 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 12 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C29 January60 days earlier
10 °C8 March22 days earlier
15 °C11 April12 days later
18 °C5 May36 days later

Frost dates near Joplin

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Tulsa (6 March) and latest in Topeka (9 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Fayetteville118 km30 March10 November
Tulsa168 km6 March17 November
Fort Smith189 km16 March18 November
Kansas City225 km7 April1 November
Topeka241 km9 April29 October

What to grow at home in winter in Joplin

Frosts in Joplin usually come from about 1 November to about 30 March. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Joplin by month

Average weather in Joplin over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (20.5–32.4 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30.6 °C), July (32.4 °C) and August (31.4 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-2.2 °C) and February (-0.2 °C). About 1140 mm of rain falls in a year, on 114 days; May is the wettest month (178 mm) and December the driest (51 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January7.5-2.2658
February11-0.2639
March16.75.511511
April20.59.315512
May24.714.517814
June30.619.8969
July32.4228410
August31.421.19711
September28.918.2697
October22.211.81069
November15.25.3618
December10.61.2516

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 2 October
Crocus2 October – end of December
Daffodil2 October – end of December
Garlic2 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 2 October
Helleboreby 2 October
Hyacinth2 October – end of December
Lilyby 2 October
Ornamental onionby 2 October
Peonyby 2 October
Saffronby 2 October
Snowdropby 2 October
Tulip2 October – end of December
Wild garlicby 2 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).