Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Columbia, Missouri

Typical last spring frost April 5 (1 spring in 10 later than April 21). Typical first fall frost October 31 (1 fall in 10 earlier than October 17). Growing season about 207 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until March 19 and fades out by April 21. It is unlikely from then until October 17, and likely again after November 14. The dashed lines are the typical dates, April 5 and October 31.

January

  • January 18 to February 15: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)

February

  • February 1 to March 1: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)
  • February 15 to March 8: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
  • February 22 to March 8: Peppers (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 1 to 15: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
  • March 8 to 22: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • March 8 to 22: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
  • March 22 to April 5: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • March 22 to April 5: Cauliflower (plant out)

April

  • April 5: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
  • April 19: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • April 19: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

May

Nothing to start this month.

June

  • June 5 to 19: Cabbage for fall (start seeds)
  • June 25 to July 9: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

July

Nothing to start this month.

August

  • August 4: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 8: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 9: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 13: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 14: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 18: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 28: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 7: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 17: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

October

  • October 17: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

November

  • November 16 to 23: Garlic (plant cloves)

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Columbia U of M (station USC00231801), less than a mile from the center of Columbia. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/missouri/columbia/

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