Last frost date in Cape Girardeau, MO

Average last frost
April 5

In Cape Girardeau, the last spring frost comes around April 5 in an average year. Wait until April 21 if you want 90% odds of no more frost. The first fall frost usually arrives about October 25, which leaves 201 frost-free days. An early freeze before October 12 happens one year in ten.

Safe after (10% risk)
Apr 21
Average first frost
Oct 25
Frost-free season
201 days
Hard freeze (28°F) ends
Mar 26
Next 7 nights in Cape Girardeau

No frost in the next 7 nights

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

  1. ThuOct 2248°
  2. FriOct 2346°
  3. SatOct 2448°
  4. SunOct 2549°
  5. MonOct 2648°
  6. TueOct 2748°
  7. WedOct 2847°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost Apr 5First frost Oct 25201 frost-free daysBlue: chance of 32°F frost. Green: average frost-free season.JFMAMJJASOND201 frost-free days
Frost risk through the year at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport, 5.9 miles from Cape Girardeau.

Planting calendar for Cape Girardeau

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

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
Warm-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
TomatoesApr 12–Apr 26
PumpkinsApr 19–May 3
SunflowersApr 5–Apr 26
CucumbersApr 19–Apr 26
CornApr 12–Apr 26
Sweet potatoesApr 26–May 10
WatermelonApr 19–May 3
Green beansApr 12–May 3
ZucchiniApr 12–Apr 26
OkraApr 26–May 10
PeppersApr 19–May 3
BasilApr 12–Apr 26
Butternut squashApr 12–Apr 26
CantaloupeApr 19–May 3
EggplantApr 19–May 3
Cool-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PotatoesMar 8–Mar 22
OnionsFeb 22–Mar 15
CarrotsMar 15–Apr 19
LettuceMar 22–Apr 12
BroccoliMar 8–Mar 22
BeetsMar 8–Apr 19
PeasFeb 22–Mar 8
CabbageMar 8–Mar 22
RadishesMar 1–Apr 12
Brussels sproutsMar 22–Apr 5
SpinachFeb 22–Mar 15
CilantroMar 22–Apr 12
KaleMar 8–Mar 22
Collard greensMar 8–Mar 22
TurnipsMar 8–Mar 22
DillApr 5–Apr 19
CeleryApr 12–Apr 19
CauliflowerMar 22–Apr 5
LeeksMar 22–Apr 5
Swiss chardMar 22–Apr 19
ParsleyMar 22–Apr 12
Fall bulbs and garlic
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Tulip bulbsOct 11–Nov 15
GarlicOct 4–Nov 8
Daffodil bulbsSep 27–Nov 8
Perennials
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
StrawberriesMar 8–Mar 22
AsparagusMar 8–Mar 22

Frost probabilities

ThresholdSpring, 90% chance laterSpring, 50%Spring, 10%Fall, 10% chance earlierFall, 50%Fall, 90%
Light frost, 32°FMar 19Apr 5Apr 21Oct 12Oct 25Nov 6
Hard freeze, 28°FMar 7Mar 26Apr 11Oct 23Nov 4Nov 21

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 Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport (USW00003935) sits 5.9 miles from the center of Cape Girardeau at 336 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 Cape Girardeau, MO?

The average last frost date in Cape Girardeau is April 5, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. There is a 10% chance of frost after April 21.

When is the first frost in Cape Girardeau?

The first frost in fall usually comes around October 25. One year in ten it arrives before October 12.

How long is the growing season in Cape Girardeau?

About 201 days between the average last and first frost.

When should I plant tomatoes in Cape Girardeau?

Plant tomato seedlings outside from April 12 to April 26. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks earlier.

Nearby in Missouri

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