Springfield, MO Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Springfield, Missouri.
Gardening in Springfield
The Queen City of the Ozarks blends Midwest practicality with Ozark mountain self-sufficiency. Springfield gardeners draw on a tradition of growing your own that goes back to the region's frontier settlement.
Zone 6b at the edge of the Ozarks. Your 193-day growing season is good, and the Ozark plateau's limestone-based soil is rocky but fertile with amendment. The terrain creates microclimates — valleys are colder, hilltops are windier, and south-facing slopes are prime garden locations.
Bass Pro Shops put Springfield on the outdoor recreation map; the city's food garden culture draws on the same self-reliance ethos. The C-Street Farmers Market and the Ozarks' strong farmers market network connect urban and rural food cultures.
What This Means for Springfield Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Springfield is around April 10, and the average first fall frost arrives around October 20. That gives you approximately 193 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 Springfield 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 Springfield
Springfield's 193-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 Missouri planting guide for all 40 plants: Missouri Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Springfield.
More About Zone 6B
Springfield is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6B, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between -5°F to 0°F. View the full Zone 6B planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Missouri: Missouri Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Missouri
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Springfield 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 Springfield (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 10) to maximize your 193-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.