When to plant peppers in Missouri

Peppers
Plant out in Kansas City
Apr 18–May 2

Across Missouri the window opens between April 15 and May 3. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Kansas City
Jan 24–Feb 7
Plant out, Kansas City
Apr 18–May 2
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 21
Last frost, Kansas City
Apr 4

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Peppers germinate slowly. A heat mat under the seed tray speeds them up.

Peppers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Kansas CityApr 18–May 2
St. LouisApr 15–Apr 29
SpringfieldApr 18–May 2
ColumbiaApr 19–May 3
IndependenceApr 24–May 8
Lee's SummitApr 21–May 5
O'FallonApr 24–May 8
St. CharlesApr 22–May 6
St. JosephMay 3–May 17
Blue SpringsApr 21–May 5
St. PetersApr 23–May 7
JoplinApr 23–May 7
FlorissantApr 16–Apr 30
WentzvilleApr 24–May 8
ChesterfieldApr 18–May 2
Jefferson CityApr 22–May 6
Cape GirardeauApr 19–May 3
OakvilleApr 20–May 4
WildwoodApr 26–May 10
University CityApr 15–Apr 29
LibertyMay 3–May 17
BallwinApr 18–May 2
KirkwoodApr 15–Apr 29
RaytownApr 21–May 5
MehlvilleApr 20–May 4
Maryland HeightsApr 18–May 2
GladstoneApr 18–May 2
GrandviewApr 21–May 5
RaymoreApr 27–May 11
NixaApr 29–May 13
All 41 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
Kansas CityJan 24 to Feb 7Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
St. LouisJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
SpringfieldJan 24 to Feb 7Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
ColumbiaJan 25 to Feb 8Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
IndependenceJan 30 to Feb 13Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
Lee's SummitJan 27 to Feb 10Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
O'FallonJan 30 to Feb 13Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
St. CharlesJan 28 to Feb 11Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
St. JosephFeb 8 to Feb 22May 3 to May 17Apr 19
Blue SpringsJan 27 to Feb 10Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
St. PetersJan 29 to Feb 12Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
JoplinJan 29 to Feb 12Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
FlorissantJan 22 to Feb 5Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
WentzvilleJan 30 to Feb 13Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
ChesterfieldJan 24 to Feb 7Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
Jefferson CityJan 28 to Feb 11Apr 22 to May 6Apr 8
Cape GirardeauJan 25 to Feb 8Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
OakvilleJan 26 to Feb 9Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
WildwoodFeb 1 to Feb 15Apr 26 to May 10Apr 12
University CityJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
LibertyFeb 8 to Feb 22May 3 to May 17Apr 19
BallwinJan 24 to Feb 7Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
KirkwoodJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
RaytownJan 27 to Feb 10Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
MehlvilleJan 26 to Feb 9Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
Maryland HeightsJan 24 to Feb 7Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
GladstoneJan 24 to Feb 7Apr 18 to May 2Apr 4
GrandviewJan 27 to Feb 10Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
RaymoreFeb 2 to Feb 16Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
NixaFeb 4 to Feb 18Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
BeltonFeb 2 to Feb 16Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
HazelwoodJan 22 to Feb 5Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
OzarkFeb 4 to Feb 18Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
Webster GrovesJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
SedaliaFeb 7 to Feb 21May 2 to May 16Apr 18
RepublicJan 29 to Feb 12Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
Old JamestownJan 22 to Feb 5Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
ArnoldJan 29 to Feb 12Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
RollaJan 25 to Feb 8Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
WarrensburgFeb 3 to Feb 17Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
AfftonJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1

Questions

When should I plant peppers in Missouri?

In Kansas City, plant out from April 18 to May 2. Across Missouri the window opens between April 15 and May 3, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Missouri

Peppers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Missouri