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Last and first frost dates in Wichita

United States

In Wichita the last spring frost usually comes around 3 April and the first autumn frost around 30 October, which leaves about 210 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 13 April to 10 July.

Last spring frostaround 3 April
First autumn frostaround 30 October
Frost-free days210 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 7a

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 Wichita?

The last frost in Wichita usually comes around 3 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 13 March, while corn waits until 10 April. The first autumn frost follows around 30 October, about 210 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha8 February – 22 July20 March – 31 August10 April – 31 August
Ageratumfrom 26 January—from 13 April
Arugula——sow 13 March – 25 September
Basil4 March – 28 August11 April – 5 October2 May – 5 October
Beet——sow 13 March – 31 August
Bell Pepper10 February – 11 May11 April – 10 July2 May – 10 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 17 January—from 10 April
Bok Choy13 February – 8 September20 March – 13 October10 April – 13 October
Borage——sow 10 April – 5 September
Broad bean——sow 13 March – 22 July
Broccoli——sow 13 March – 15 July
Brussels Sprouts6 January – 12 June20 February – 27 July13 March – 27 July
Busy Lizziefrom 16 January—from 10 April
Cabbage——sow 13 March – 22 June
Calendula——sow from 13 March
Carrot——sow 13 March – 7 August
Cauliflower9 January – 15 July20 February – 26 August13 March – 26 August
Celeriac2 January – 12 May20 March – 28 July10 April – 28 July
Celery2 January – 22 May20 March – 7 August10 April – 7 August
Celosiafrom 12 Februaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Chamomile——sow 13 March – 26 August
Chayote22 December – 5 May20 March – 1 August10 April – 1 August
Chickpea——sow 13 March – 12 July
Chicory26 January – 6 August—13 March – 31 August
Chili Pepper10 February – 17 June11 April – 16 August2 May – 16 August
China asterfrom 18 Februaryfrom 11 Aprilfrom 2 May
Chives——sow 13 March – 17 August
Cilantro——sow 13 March – 27 August
Corn——sow 10 April – 12 July
Corn poppy——sow from 13 March
Cosmosfrom 12 Februaryfrom 29 Marchfrom 19 April
Cucumber14 March – 18 July11 April – 15 August2 May – 15 August
Daikon——sow 13 March – 24 August
Delphiniumfrom 23 December—from 13 March
Dill——sow 13 March – 6 September
Edging lobeliafrom 16 January—from 10 April
Eggplant10 February – 11 May11 April – 10 July2 May – 10 July
Florence fennel3 February – 22 July20 March – 5 September10 April – 5 September
Foxglovefrom 5 December—from 13 March
Garden sorrel——sow 13 March – 25 August
Green Beans——sow 19 April – 20 July
Hollyhock——sow from 13 March
Hyssop——sow 13 March – 18 July
Kale——sow 13 March – 19 August
Kiwano19 February – 25 July23 March – 26 August13 April – 26 August
Kohlrabi——sow 13 March – 29 August
Leek12 December – 3 May20 February – 12 July13 March – 12 July
Lemon balm——sow 13 March – 21 August
Lettuce——sow 13 March – 3 September
Lisianthusfrom 25 Novemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Lovage——sow from 13 March
Luffa28 February – 19 May11 April – 30 June2 May – 30 June
Marigoldfrom 6 Februaryfrom 20 Marchfrom 10 April
Marjoram10 February – 6 August—2 May – 5 October
Melon14 March – 5 July11 April – 2 August2 May – 2 August
Microgreens——sow 19 April – 16 October
Moringa5 March – 11 August29 April – 5 October20 May – 5 October
Moss rosefrom 23 January—from 10 April
Mustard greens——sow 13 March – 15 September
Napa cabbage15 February – 16 August20 March – 18 September10 April – 18 September
Nasturtiumfrom 10 Februaryfrom 20 Marchfrom 10 April
Okra28 February – 30 July11 April – 10 September2 May – 10 September
Oregano22 December – 27 July20 February – 25 September13 March – 25 September
Pansyfrom 26 Decemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Parsley——sow 13 March – 15 August
Parsnip——sow 13 March – 4 July
Peanut5 March – 25 June11 April – 1 August2 May – 1 August
Peas——sow 13 March – 17 August
Petuniafrom 7 Februaryfrom 11 Aprilfrom 2 May
Physalis6 February – 22 June23 March – 6 August13 April – 6 August
Pumpkin28 February – 24 May11 April – 5 July2 May – 5 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 20 December—from 13 March
Radish——sow 13 March – 30 September
Sage2 January – 23 July20 February – 10 September13 March – 10 September
Scarlet sagefrom 30 January—from 13 April
Snapdragonfrom 17 Decemberfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Soybean——sow 2 May – 11 August
Spinach——sow 13 March – 5 September
Stevia2 February – 13 June23 March – 1 August13 April – 1 August
Stock——sow from 13 March
Sunflower——sow from 19 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 13 March
Sweet Corn26 February – 6 August20 March – 28 August10 April – 28 August
Sweet peafrom 9 Januaryfrom 20 Februaryfrom 13 March
Sweet William——sow from 13 March
Swiss Chard——sow 13 March – 31 August
Thyme——sow 13 March – 12 July
Tomato30 January – 19 May23 March – 10 July13 April – 10 July
Turnip——sow 13 March – 2 September
Watercress——sow 13 March – 13 September
Watermelon14 March – 23 June11 April – 21 July2 May – 21 July
Zinniafrom 25 Marchfrom 29 Aprilfrom 20 May
Zucchini21 March – 23 July11 April – 13 August2 May – 13 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.

What planting zone is Wichita?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Wichita (ZIP 67202) in zone 7a. Zone 7a stands for an average coldest night of 0 to 5 °F (-17.8 to -15 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 7a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Wichita: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Wichita

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 10 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C20 February42 days earlier
10 °C12 March22 days earlier
15 °C13 April10 days later
18 °C2 May29 days later

Frost dates near Wichita

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Tulsa (6 March) and latest in Dodge City (10 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Topeka207 km9 April29 October
Tulsa209 km6 March17 November
Dodge City236 km10 April29 October
Oklahoma City247 km14 March10 November
Joplin259 km30 March1 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Wichita

Within 15 km of Wichita OpenStreetMap lists 5 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 2 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Stutzmans, 9 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Wichita

Frosts in Wichita usually come from about 30 October to about 3 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 Wichita by month

Average weather in Wichita over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (21–32.6 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30.8 °C), July (32.6 °C) and August (31.5 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-3.7 °C), February (-2.2 °C) and December (-0.9 °C). About 904 mm of rain falls in a year, on 91 days; May is the wettest month (177 mm) and December the driest (27 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January6.2-3.7355
February9.4-2.2294
March16.64.3637
April218.6959
May24.714.117714
June30.820.311110
July32.622.37610
August31.521.4869
September28.518.3727
October21.610.9867
November14.14.1475
December9.3-0.9274

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 30 September
Crocus30 September – end of December
Daffodil30 September – end of December
Garlic30 September – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 30 September
Helleboreby 30 September
Hyacinth30 September – end of December
Lilyby 30 September
Ornamental onionby 30 September
Peonyby 30 September
Saffronby 30 September
Snowdropby 30 September
Tulip30 September – end of December
Wild garlicby 30 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).