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Last and first frost dates in Topeka

United States

In Topeka the last spring frost usually comes around 9 April and the first autumn frost around 29 October, which leaves about 203 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 16 April to 9 July.

Last spring frostaround 9 April
First autumn frostaround 29 October
Frost-free days203 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 Topeka?

The last frost in Topeka usually comes around 9 April: 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 19 March, while corn waits until 16 April. The first autumn frost follows around 29 October, about 203 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha14 February – 21 July26 March – 30 August16 April – 30 August
Ageratumfrom 29 January—from 16 April
Arugula——sow 19 March – 24 September
Basil8 March – 27 August15 April – 4 October6 May – 4 October
Beet——sow 19 March – 30 August
Bell Pepper14 February – 10 May15 April – 9 July6 May – 9 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 23 January—from 16 April
Bok Choy19 February – 7 September26 March – 12 October16 April – 12 October
Borage——sow 16 April – 4 September
Broad bean——sow 19 March – 21 July
Broccoli——sow 19 March – 14 July
Brussels Sprouts12 January – 11 June26 February – 26 July19 March – 26 July
Busy Lizziefrom 22 January—from 16 April
Cabbage——sow 19 March – 21 June
Calendula——sow from 19 March
Carrot——sow 19 March – 6 August
Cauliflower15 January – 14 July26 February – 25 August19 March – 25 August
Celeriac8 January – 11 May26 March – 27 July16 April – 27 July
Celery8 January – 21 May26 March – 6 August16 April – 6 August
Celosiafrom 14 Februaryfrom 31 Marchfrom 21 April
Chamomile——sow 19 March – 25 August
Chayote28 December – 4 May26 March – 31 July16 April – 31 July
Chickpea——sow 19 March – 11 July
Chicory1 February – 5 August—19 March – 30 August
Chili Pepper14 February – 16 June15 April – 15 August6 May – 15 August
China asterfrom 22 Februaryfrom 15 Aprilfrom 6 May
Chives——sow 19 March – 16 August
Cilantro——sow 19 March – 26 August
Corn——sow 16 April – 11 July
Corn poppy——sow from 19 March
Cosmosfrom 14 Februaryfrom 31 Marchfrom 21 April
Cucumber18 March – 17 July15 April – 14 August6 May – 14 August
Daikon——sow 19 March – 23 August
Delphiniumfrom 29 December—from 19 March
Dill——sow 19 March – 5 September
Edging lobeliafrom 22 January—from 16 April
Eggplant14 February – 10 May15 April – 9 July6 May – 9 July
Florence fennel9 February – 21 July26 March – 4 September16 April – 4 September
Foxglovefrom 11 December—from 19 March
Garden sorrel——sow 19 March – 24 August
Green Beans——sow 21 April – 19 July
Hollyhock——sow from 19 March
Hyssop——sow 19 March – 17 July
Kale——sow 19 March – 18 August
Kiwano22 February – 24 July26 March – 25 August16 April – 25 August
Kohlrabi——sow 19 March – 28 August
Leek18 December – 2 May26 February – 11 July19 March – 11 July
Lemon balm——sow 19 March – 20 August
Lettuce——sow 19 March – 2 September
Lisianthusfrom 1 Decemberfrom 26 Februaryfrom 19 March
Lovage——sow from 19 March
Luffa4 March – 18 May15 April – 29 June6 May – 29 June
Marigoldfrom 12 Februaryfrom 26 Marchfrom 16 April
Marjoram14 February – 5 August—6 May – 4 October
Melon18 March – 4 July15 April – 1 August6 May – 1 August
Microgreens——sow 21 April – 15 October
Moringa4 March – 10 August28 April – 4 October19 May – 4 October
Moss rosefrom 29 January—from 16 April
Mustard greens——sow 19 March – 14 September
Napa cabbage21 February – 15 August26 March – 17 September16 April – 17 September
Nasturtiumfrom 16 Februaryfrom 26 Marchfrom 16 April
Okra4 March – 29 July15 April – 9 September6 May – 9 September
Oregano28 December – 26 July26 February – 24 September19 March – 24 September
Pansyfrom 1 Januaryfrom 26 Februaryfrom 19 March
Parsley——sow 19 March – 14 August
Parsnip——sow 19 March – 3 July
Peanut9 March – 24 June15 April – 31 July6 May – 31 July
Peas——sow 19 March – 16 August
Petuniafrom 11 Februaryfrom 15 Aprilfrom 6 May
Physalis9 February – 21 June26 March – 5 August16 April – 5 August
Pumpkin4 March – 23 May15 April – 4 July6 May – 4 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 26 December—from 19 March
Radish——sow 19 March – 29 September
Sage8 January – 22 July26 February – 9 September19 March – 9 September
Scarlet sagefrom 2 February—from 16 April
Snapdragonfrom 23 Decemberfrom 26 Februaryfrom 19 March
Soybean——sow 6 May – 10 August
Spinach——sow 19 March – 4 September
Stevia5 February – 12 June26 March – 31 July16 April – 31 July
Stock——sow from 19 March
Sunflower——sow from 21 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 19 March
Sweet Corn4 March – 5 August26 March – 27 August16 April – 27 August
Sweet peafrom 15 Januaryfrom 26 Februaryfrom 19 March
Sweet William——sow from 19 March
Swiss Chard——sow 19 March – 30 August
Thyme——sow 19 March – 11 July
Tomato2 February – 18 May26 March – 9 July16 April – 9 July
Turnip——sow 19 March – 1 September
Watercress——sow 19 March – 12 September
Watermelon18 March – 22 June15 April – 20 July6 May – 20 July
Zinniafrom 24 Marchfrom 28 Aprilfrom 19 May
Zucchini25 March – 22 July15 April – 12 August6 May – 12 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 Topeka

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 28 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 6 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C4 March36 days earlier
10 °C12 March28 days earlier
15 °C15 April6 days later
18 °C6 May27 days later

Frost dates near Topeka

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Joplin (30 March) and latest in Omaha (16 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Kansas City97 km7 April1 November
Wichita207 km3 April30 October
Lincoln215 km16 April28 October
Joplin241 km30 March1 November
Omaha249 km16 April26 October

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Topeka

Within 15 km of Topeka OpenStreetMap lists 2 farm-supply shops, 4 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest farm supply to the city centre is LDI - Topeka, 7 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Topeka

Frosts in Topeka usually come from about 29 October to about 9 April. 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 Topeka by month

Average weather in Topeka over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (20–31.8 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30.8 °C), July (31.8 °C) and August (30.7 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-4.9 °C), February (-3.2 °C) and December (-1.5 °C). About 979 mm of rain falls in a year, on 101 days; May is the wettest month (168 mm) and February the driest (32 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January4.3-4.9447
February8-3.2325
March15.33.5768
April207.910510
May24.513.816814
June30.820.19310
July31.821.812210
August30.720.710010
September2817.8838
October20.910.4738
November13.13.4486
December8.1-1.5355

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 29 September
Crocus29 September – 30 December
Daffodil29 September – 30 December
Garlic29 September – 30 December
Grape hyacinthby 29 September
Helleboreby 29 September
Hyacinth29 September – 30 December
Lilyby 29 September
Ornamental onionby 29 September
Peonyby 29 September
Saffronby 29 September
Snowdropby 29 September
Tulip29 September – 30 December
Wild garlicby 29 September

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).