When to plant in Lawrence, KS
USDA Zone 6bLawrence, Kansas frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 6b, Lawrence gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
LAWRENCE · 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 Lawrence’s own odds, recorded at LAWRENCE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 2 | Apr 21 | Apr 8 | Oct 2 | Oct 19 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | Apr 12 | Mar 30 | Oct 14 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 17 | Apr 3 | Mar 16 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 20 |
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 Lawrence, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 7 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.
Lawrence planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lawrence, KS?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lawrence around April 12 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Lawrence, KS?
In Lawrence, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 28 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Lawrence in?
Lawrence 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 Lawrence?
Lawrence has about 199 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 12) and first fall frost (October 28).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lawrence?
For Lawrence, sow tomatoes indoors about February 15–March 1 and move the seedlings out around April 19, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lawrence
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lawrence’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at LAWRENCE, 1 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 Lawrence, KS — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00144559. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kansas/lawrence.