Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 66027 (Leavenworth, KS)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Leavenworth, KS (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)196 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 66027 (Leavenworth)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 66027, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
55°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ku-Nesa (26 mi), Powell Gardens (58 mi).
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ku-Nesa (26 mi), Powell Gardens (58 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 66027 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 28 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 27: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 31 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 25 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 7 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 12 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 66027
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 27). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 22–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 8–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 1–15 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Kansas has a university or garden plant program: Prairie Star Flowers. Plant frost-tender annuals after April 12 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Leavenworth, KS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00144588), elevation 870 ft, 2.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leavenworth 3SW, KS | 6 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 19 |
| Kansas City Intl AP, MO | 11 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 24 |
| Atchison, KS | 18 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 66027
When is the last frost in 66027?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 66027 is April 12. For a more cautious planting date, use April 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 66027?
The average first fall freeze is October 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 13.
What hardiness zone is 66027?
ZIP 66027 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 66027 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
64079 Platte City 64028 Farley 66048 Leavenworth 64098 Weston 66043 Lansing 66020 Easton 64092 64153 Kansas City
Other ZIP codes in Leavenworth County
66007 66012 66020 66043 66048 66052 66086 All Leavenworth County frost dates · Kansas frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.