Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 66849 (Dwight, 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, Council Grove Lake, KS (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)194 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 66849 (Dwight)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 66849, 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
56°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Manhattan 6 SSW, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 64°, Fri 59°, Sat 56°.
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Manhattan 6 SSW, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 65°, Fri 62°, Sat 58°.
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 66849 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°F at 4 inches. 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 27 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 25: 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 27 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 27 |
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 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 6 |
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 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 11 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
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 66849
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 25). 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 14–28 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 14–28 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 14–28 | Mar 21–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 14–28 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 14–28 | Mar 14–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 14–28 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 18 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 7–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 17–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 14–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 14–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 14–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 14–21 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 14–21 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 17–31 | Apr 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 21–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (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 11 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Council Grove Lake, KS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00141867), elevation 1,315 ft, 14.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan 6 SSW, KS | 16 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 17 |
| Manhattan Muni AP, KS | 18 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 16 |
| Milford Lake, KS | 21 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 66849
When is the last frost in 66849?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 66849 is April 11. For a more cautious planting date, use April 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 66849?
The average first fall freeze is October 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 11.
What hardiness zone is 66849?
ZIP 66849 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 66849 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
66834 Alta Vista 66872 White City 66441 Junction City 66401 Alma 66517 Ogden 66846 Council Grove 66442 Fort Riley 66502 Manhattan
Other ZIP codes in Morris County
66838 66846 66872 66873 67449 All Morris 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.