When to plant in Garden City, KS
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Garden City, Kansas — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6b means Garden City sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
GARDEN CITY EXP STN · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Garden City’s own odds, recorded at GARDEN CITY EXP STN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 18 | May 6 | Apr 24 | Sep 24 | Oct 7 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F | May 9 | Apr 28 | Apr 13 | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | May 2 | Apr 17 | Apr 2 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Garden City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 35 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Garden City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Garden City, KS?
On average, the last spring frost in Garden City is around April 28 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Garden City, KS?
Expect Garden City's first fall frost near October 17 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Garden City in?
Garden City is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Garden City?
There are roughly 172 frost-free days in Garden City (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 28 to the first fall frost near October 17.
When should I plant tomatoes in Garden City?
In Garden City, start tomato seeds indoors around March 3–March 17, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 5 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Garden City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Garden City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Dodge City · 77 km
- Liberal · 104 km
- Guymon · 153 km
- Hays · 167 km
- Great Bend · 184 km
- Woodward · 215 km
- Dumas · 255 km
- Hutchinson · 258 km
Frost dates recorded at GARDEN CITY EXP STN, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Garden City, KS — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00142980. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kansas/garden-city.