Kansas City Gardening Guide (2026)

Plains; hot summers, cold winters.

USDA zone
6
Typical last frost
04/15
Typical first frost
10/20

Quick answer (Kansas City): Gardeners here work in about a 188-day frost-free window around zone 6. State context: Missouri (zones 5โ€“7). Start warm crops indoors ~6 weeks before the last frost of 04/15.

Your Kansas City planting calendar

Pre-filled with Kansas City's frost dates. Choose a crop to print your plan.

In Missouri (typical zone 5โ€“7, last frost โ‰ˆ Apr 15, first frost โ‰ˆ Oct 20, 188-day season), your Tomato plan:

Start seeds indoors
Mar 4
Sow / transplant outdoors
Apr 29
First harvest
Jul 8
Spacing / depth
24โ€ณ / 0.25โ€ณ

Month-by-month (Missouri, 2026)

MonthAction
Janโ€”
Febโ€”
MarStart indoors
AprSow ยท Transplant
Mayโ€”
Junโ€”
JulHarvest
Augโ€”
Sepโ€”
Octโ€”
Novโ€”
Decโ€”

Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; transplant after soil warms. Zones 3โ€“13 suitable. Dates are typical; confirm with your county extension and watch the 10-day forecast.

Common pests near Kansas City

Pre-filled to Missouri. Pick a pest for signs, organic-first treatment, and a printable IPM card.

Japanese Beetle

Targets
Roses, grapes, beans, basil, lawns
Signs
Metallic green-bronze beetles skeletonizing leaves; grubs in turf.
Organic / IPM first
Hand-pick into soapy water; milky spore and beneficial nematodes for grubs; neem.
Chemical option (follow label)
Carbaryl or imidacloprid (follow label); treat grubs in late summer.
Prevention
Row covers early season; avoid trapping lures that attract more.

Crops that fit zone 6

Vegetables and herbs suited to your metro zone โ€” open any for a state-specific planting card: