Last frost date in Gardner, KS

Average last frost
April 13

The average last frost in Gardner is April 13. By April 29 the chance of another 32°F night drops to 1 in 10. The first fall frost usually arrives about October 24, which leaves 193 frost-free days. An early freeze before October 10 happens one year in ten.

Safe after (10% risk)
Apr 29
Average first frost
Oct 24
Frost-free season
193 days
Hard freeze (28°F) ends
Apr 3
Next 7 nights in Gardner

No frost in the next 7 nights

National Weather Service forecast, updated Oct 22, 12:57 UTC

  1. ThuOct 2253°
  2. FriOct 2355°
  3. SatOct 2454°
  4. SunOct 2555°
  5. MonOct 2650°
  6. TueOct 2747°
  7. WedOct 2849°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost Apr 13First frost Oct 24193 frost-free daysBlue: chance of 32°F frost. Green: average frost-free season.JFMAMJJASOND193 frost-free days
Frost risk through the year at Olathe Johnson County Airport, 2.3 miles from Gardner.

Planting calendar for Gardner

Windows count forward or back from the average frost dates above. Click a crop for dates across Kansas.

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
Warm-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
TomatoesApr 20–May 4
PumpkinsApr 27–May 11
SunflowersApr 13–May 4
CucumbersApr 27–May 4
CornApr 20–May 4
Sweet potatoesMay 4–May 18
WatermelonApr 27–May 11
Green beansApr 20–May 11
ZucchiniApr 20–May 4
OkraMay 4–May 18
PeppersApr 27–May 11
BasilApr 20–May 4
Butternut squashApr 20–May 4
CantaloupeApr 27–May 11
EggplantApr 27–May 11
Cool-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PotatoesMar 16–Mar 30
OnionsMar 2–Mar 23
CarrotsMar 23–Apr 27
LettuceMar 30–Apr 20
BroccoliMar 16–Mar 30
BeetsMar 16–Apr 27
PeasMar 2–Mar 16
CabbageMar 16–Mar 30
RadishesMar 9–Apr 20
Brussels sproutsMar 30–Apr 13
SpinachMar 2–Mar 23
CilantroMar 30–Apr 20
KaleMar 16–Mar 30
Collard greensMar 16–Mar 30
TurnipsMar 16–Mar 30
DillApr 13–Apr 27
CeleryApr 20–Apr 27
CauliflowerMar 30–Apr 13
LeeksMar 30–Apr 13
Swiss chardMar 30–Apr 27
ParsleyMar 30–Apr 20
Fall bulbs and garlic
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Tulip bulbsOct 10–Nov 14
GarlicOct 3–Nov 7
Daffodil bulbsSep 26–Nov 7
Perennials
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
StrawberriesMar 16–Mar 30
AsparagusMar 16–Mar 30

Frost probabilities

ThresholdSpring, 90% chance laterSpring, 50%Spring, 10%Fall, 10% chance earlierFall, 50%Fall, 90%
Light frost, 32°FMar 30Apr 13Apr 29Oct 10Oct 24Nov 4
Hard freeze, 28°FMar 16Apr 3Apr 19Oct 20Nov 2Nov 18

Read the spring 10% column as the date after which only one year in ten still gets frost. That is the safer date for tomatoes, peppers and basil.

Where these numbers come from

NOAA station Olathe Johnson County Airport (USW00093909) sits 2.3 miles from the center of Gardner at 1,087 feet. Its averages cover 1991 to 2020. Low spots, valleys and open fields can keep getting frost a week or two after the station stops; city centers and lakeshores usually get less of it.

Questions

When is the last frost in Gardner, KS?

The average last frost date in Gardner is April 13, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. There is a 10% chance of frost after April 29.

When is the first frost in Gardner?

The first frost in fall usually comes around October 24. One year in ten it arrives before October 10.

How long is the growing season in Gardner?

About 193 days between the average last and first frost.

When should I plant tomatoes in Gardner?

Plant tomato seedlings outside from April 20 to May 4. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks earlier.

Nearby in Kansas

All 22 cities in Kansas