When to plant tomatoes in Kansas

Tomatoes
Plant out in Wichita
Apr 18–May 2

Across Kansas the window opens between April 11 and May 5. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Wichita
Feb 14–Feb 28
Plant out, Wichita
Apr 18–May 2
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 22
Last frost, Wichita
Apr 11

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
WichitaApr 18–May 2
Overland ParkApr 17–May 1
Kansas CityApr 11–Apr 25
OlatheApr 17–May 1
TopekaApr 23–May 7
LawrenceApr 19–May 3
ShawneeApr 23–May 7
LenexaApr 17–May 1
ManhattanApr 23–May 7
SalinaApr 25–May 9
HutchinsonApr 25–May 9
LeavenworthApr 19–May 3
LeawoodApr 15–Apr 29
Dodge CityApr 28–May 12
Garden CityMay 5–May 19
DerbyApr 21–May 5
GardnerApr 20–May 4
EmporiaApr 22–May 6
Prairie VillageApr 11–Apr 25
Junction CityApr 19–May 3
HaysApr 26–May 10
PittsburgApr 14–Apr 28

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Kansas?

In Wichita, plant out from April 18 to May 2. Across Kansas the window opens between April 11 and May 5, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Kansas

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Kansas