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Frost Dates and Planting Windows in Missouri

The 32°F frost dates at the 171 weather stations in Missouri with NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals, and the planting windows they give. These are long-term statistics, not a forecast. For the dates at the station nearest you, enter your ZIP code.

The planner uses the weather station nearest your ZIP code.

Frost dates across Missouri

Each risk level uses a date with a set chance of frost. In spring, it's the chance of a 32°F frost on or after the last-frost date. In fall, it's the chance of the first 32°F frost on or before the first-frost date. At the Typical level (30%), the last frost ranges from March 31 to May 3 across the state, and the first frost from October 2 to November 2.

32°F frost dates: earliest and latest among 171 stations, by risk level
Risk levelEarliest last frostLatest last frostEarliest first frostLatest first frost
Conservative (10%)April 8CARUTHERSVILLE, MO USMay 123 stationsSeptember 25STEELVILLE 2 N, MO USOctober 26CARUTHERSVILLE, MO US
Typical (30%)March 31CARUTHERSVILLE, MO USMay 3ROSEBUD, MO USOctober 2STEELVILLE 2 N, MO USNovember 2PORTAGEVILLE, MO US
Aggressive (50%)March 24CARUTHERSVILLE, MO USApril 27ROSEBUD, MO USOctober 8STEELVILLE 2 N, MO USNovember 9CARUTHERSVILLE, MO US

Growing season length

The growing season is the stretch between the last spring frost and the first fall frost at 32°F. NOAA gives it as a length with a chance of being at least that long. Each risk level uses the length with that chance of a shorter season, so Conservative shows the shortest lengths.

Growing season at 32°F: shortest and longest among 171 stations
Risk levelShortestLongest
Conservative (90% chance of at least this long)144 daysSTEELVILLE 2 N, MO US207 days2 stations
Typical (70% chance of at least this long)156 daysSTEELVILLE 2 N, MO US221 daysCARUTHERSVILLE, MO US
Aggressive (50% chance of at least this long)164 daysSTEELVILLE 2 N, MO US230 daysCARUTHERSVILLE, MO US
Number of stations by growing season length, Typical (70% chance of at least this long)
Growing seasonStations
140–159 days3
160–179 days55
180–199 days97
200–219 days15
220–239 days1

Planting windows across Missouri

For each crop, the earliest start and the latest end of its Typical windows among the stations. A window at any one station is shorter and falls inside this span. Transplant dates are for seedlings.

Typical planting windows (30% frost dates): earliest start and latest end among stations
Crop and taskEarliest startLatest endStations
Basil: Transplant outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171
Bean: Sow outdoorsMarch 31May 3171 of 171
Beet: Sow outdoorsMarch 3May 3171 of 171
Beet: Sow for fallJuly 10September 13171 of 171
Broccoli: Transplant outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Broccoli: Transplant for fallJune 30September 13171 of 171
Brussels sprouts: Transplant outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Brussels sprouts: Transplant for fallJune 10September 23171 of 171
Cabbage: Transplant outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Cabbage: Transplant for fallJune 25September 13171 of 171
Cantaloupe: Transplant outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171
Cantaloupe: Sow outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171
Carrot: Sow outdoorsMarch 3May 3171 of 171
Carrot: Sow for fallJune 30September 3171 of 171
Cucumber: Transplant outdoorsApril 7May 10171 of 171
Cucumber: Sow outdoorsMarch 31May 3171 of 171
Eggplant: Transplant outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171
Garlic: Plant for fallOctober 2November 16171 of 171
Lettuce: Transplant outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Lettuce: Sow outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Lettuce: Sow for fallJune 30September 23171 of 171
Onion: Transplant or plant setsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Peas: Sow outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Peas: Sow for fallJuly 8September 13171 of 171
Pepper: Transplant outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171
Potato: Plant seed potatoesMarch 3May 3171 of 171
Pumpkin: Sow outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171
Radish: Sow outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Radish: Sow for fallAugust 14October 13171 of 171
Spinach: Transplant outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Spinach: Sow outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Spinach: Sow for fallJuly 20September 26171 of 171
Summer squash: Transplant outdoorsApril 7May 10171 of 171
Summer squash: Sow outdoorsMarch 31May 3171 of 171
Sweet corn: Sow outdoorsMarch 31May 3171 of 171
Sweet potato: Plant slipsApril 7May 17171 of 171
Tomato: Transplant outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171
Turnip: Sow outdoorsMarch 3April 19171 of 171
Turnip: Sow for fallJuly 20September 23171 of 171
Watermelon: Transplant outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171
Watermelon: Sow outdoorsApril 14May 17171 of 171

Weather stations in Missouri

Every station in Missouri with NOAA frost-date normals, with its Typical 32°F frost dates and growing season.

Data sources

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, frost dates, 1991–2020 normals, version 1.0.1
Files: us-climate-normals_1991-2020_v1.0.1_annualseasonal_multivariate_by-station_c20230404.tar.gz, inventory_30yr.txt from NOAA NCEI. Retrieved October 10, 2026.