Last Frost Date

Planting planner: St. Louis, Missouri

Typical last spring frost April 8 (1 spring in 10 later than April 23). Typical first fall frost October 26 (1 fall in 10 earlier than October 12). Growing season about 200 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until March 23 and fades out by April 23. It is unlikely from then until October 12, and likely again after November 7. The dashed lines are the typical dates, April 8 and October 26.

January

  • January 21 to February 18: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)

February

  • February 4 to March 4: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)
  • February 18 to March 11: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
  • February 25 to March 11: Peppers (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 4 to 18: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
  • March 11 to 25: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • March 11 to 25: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
  • March 25 to April 8: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • March 25 to April 8: Cauliflower (plant out)

April

  • April 8: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
  • April 22: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • April 22: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

May

  • May 31 to June 14: Cabbage for fall (start seeds)

June

  • June 20 to July 4: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

July

  • July 30: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)

August

  • August 3: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 4: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 8: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 9: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 13: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 23: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 2: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 12: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

October

  • October 12: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

November

  • November 13 to 20: Garlic (plant cloves)

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Cahokia St Louis Airport (station USW00003960), 6 miles from the center of St. Louis. 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/st-louis/

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