When to plant in Manhattan, KS
USDA Zone 6aManhattan, Kansas frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 6a means Manhattan sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Manhattan is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MANHATTAN · 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 Manhattan’s own odds, recorded at MANHATTAN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 11 | Apr 27 | Apr 13 | Sep 25 | Oct 9 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 1 | Apr 16 | Apr 1 | Oct 1 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 24 | Apr 6 | Mar 22 | Oct 11 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 |
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 Manhattan, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 9 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.
Manhattan planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Manhattan, KS?
Manhattan's average last spring frost falls near April 16 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Manhattan, KS?
Expect Manhattan's first fall frost near October 19 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Manhattan in?
Manhattan is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Manhattan?
There are roughly 186 frost-free days in Manhattan (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 16 to the first fall frost near October 19.
When should I plant tomatoes in Manhattan?
In Manhattan, start tomato seeds indoors around February 19–March 5, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 23 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Manhattan
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Manhattan’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at MANHATTAN, 2 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 Manhattan, KS — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00144972. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kansas/manhattan.