Overland Park, KS Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Overland Park, Kansas.
Gardening in Overland Park
Johnson County's largest city has suburban yard space and Kansas prairie soil — a productive combination for food gardening in the Kansas City metro.
Zone 6a with 189 frost-free days. The Kansas prairie soil is fertile, and the city's suburban setting means adequate yard space. The Kansas City metro's weather volatility keeps gardeners humble.
Overland Park shares KC metro food culture while maintaining Kansas agricultural identity. The Overland Park Farmers Market serves one of the most affluent communities in Kansas.
What This Means for Overland Park Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Overland Park is around April 12, and the average first fall frost arrives around October 18. That gives you approximately 189 frost-free days to work with.
A solid, workable season. Most standard vegetable varieties have enough time to mature, though the longest-season crops (like sweet potatoes at 90+ days or large watermelons at 85+ days) need to be started early and chosen carefully. Indoor seed starting isn't optional — it's how you buy the extra weeks that make the difference between a good harvest and a great one.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Overland Park area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Overland Park
Overland Park's 189-day season gives you plenty of time for most vegetables with good planning. Start warm-season crops indoors to maximize your window. Cool-season crops thrive in your spring and fall shoulder seasons. Recommended starting points: tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, carrots, beans, broccoli, garlic, and basil.
See the full Kansas planting guide for all 40 plants: Kansas Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Overland Park.
More About Zone 6A
Overland Park is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6A, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between -10°F to -5°F. View the full Zone 6A planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Kansas: Kansas Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Kansas
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Overland Park area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Overland Park (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Start warm-season seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost (April 12) to maximize your 189-day window. Direct sow cold-hardy crops like peas and lettuce 3-4 weeks before last frost. Every week of early indoor starting matters at this season length. Enter your zip code for exact dates.