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When to plant in McPherson, KS

USDA Zone 6b

McPherson, Kansas frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.

Zone 6b means McPherson sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.

Station · MCPHERSON · 4.8 km
Last spring frost
April 18
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 24
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
189 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for McPhersonA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for McPherson: last spring frost around April 18, first fall frost around October 24, about 189 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average first fall frost in McPherson is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

MCPHERSON · 1991–2020

The 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 McPherson’s own odds, recorded at MCPHERSON.

Frost-probability curves for McPhersonProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 18 and the first fall frost around October 24, giving about 189 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 10Apr 28Apr 15Sep 30Oct 16Oct 29
32°FMay 1Apr 18Apr 4Oct 7Oct 24Nov 7
28°FApr 23Apr 6Mar 21Oct 17Nov 1Nov 16

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 18August 1
Fall sowin 13 days
Broccoli
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Cabbage
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Carrot
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Cauliflower
August 1August 15
Fall sowin 13 days
Napa Cabbage
August 1August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Beet
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Collards
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Endive
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Escarole
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Kale
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Kohlrabi
August 15September 12
Fall sowin 27 days
Peas
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Radicchio
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Swiss Chard
August 15August 29
Fall sowin 27 days
Turnip
August 15September 12

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in McPherson, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 38 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

MCPHERSON
Primary
5 km · 463 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 18
FALL
Oct 24
KANOPOLIS LAKE
37 km · 455 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 19
FALL
Oct 23
HUTCHINSON
38 km · 469 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 18
FALL
Oct 21

McPherson planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in McPherson, KS?

McPherson's average last spring frost falls near April 18 — 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 McPherson, KS?

The first fall frost in McPherson typically arrives around October 24 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is McPherson in?

McPherson 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 McPherson?

There are roughly 189 frost-free days in McPherson (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 18 to the first fall frost near October 24.

When should I plant tomatoes in McPherson?

In McPherson, start tomato seeds indoors around February 21–March 7, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 25 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in McPherson

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to McPherson’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at MCPHERSON, 5 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in McPherson, KS — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00145152. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/kansas/mcpherson.
When to Plant in McPherson, KS — Frost Dates & Zone 6b — BlissGarden