When to plant in Cape Girardeau, MO
USDA Zone 7aCape Girardeau, Missouri frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Cape Girardeau, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Cape Girardeau is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CAPE GIRARDEAU MUNI AP · 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 Cape Girardeau’s own odds, recorded at CAPE GIRARDEAU MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 1 | Apr 17 | Apr 2 | Oct 2 | Oct 16 | Oct 28 |
| 32°F | Apr 21 | Apr 5 | Mar 19 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Apr 11 | Mar 26 | Mar 7 | Oct 23 | Nov 4 | Nov 21 |
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 Cape Girardeau, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 34 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.
Cape Girardeau planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cape Girardeau, MO?
Cape Girardeau's average last spring frost falls near April 5 — 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 Cape Girardeau, MO?
In Cape Girardeau, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 25 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Cape Girardeau in?
Cape Girardeau is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Cape Girardeau?
There are roughly 203 frost-free days in Cape Girardeau (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 5 to the first fall frost near October 25.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cape Girardeau?
In Cape Girardeau, start tomato seeds indoors around February 8–February 22, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 12 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Cape Girardeau
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cape Girardeau’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Jackson · 12 km
- Sikeston · 47 km
- Carbondale · 55 km
- Herrin · 72 km
- Marion · 72 km
- Paducah · 85 km
- Farmington · 93 km
- Poplar Bluff · 97 km
Frost dates recorded at CAPE GIRARDEAU MUNI AP, 9 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 Cape Girardeau, MO — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003935. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/missouri/cape-girardeau.