Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Liberal, KS

Liberal, KS is in USDA zone 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 24.

Liberal on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 20
First frostOct 24
Growing season186 days

6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Liberal, KS…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Liberal, KS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season186 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Liberal, KS, elevation 2,835 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Liberal

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 24) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 67901 came on Feb 20 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6b in Kansas

431 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kansas, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 37

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbitternut hickory75 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack maple100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Shrubs 64

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fblack cherry80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °Fblackhaw16 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fblackjack oak25 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 176

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 134

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Vines 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Liberal, KS.

Soil in Liberal, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 67901 is Richfield — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.8%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Richfield fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 67901; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Liberal, KS

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days81days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights128nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,109base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation21.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall14 inper year; 8 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 20 °F 48°20° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 22 °F 51°22° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 30 °F 61°30° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 39 °F 70°39° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 60 °F 89°60° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 65 °F 93°65° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 64 °F 91°64° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 55 °F 84°55° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 42 °F 72°42° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 29 °F 58°29° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 21 °F 47°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.47 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 0.5❄4 JanFebruary: 0.40 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 0.4❄2 FebMarch: 1.20 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 1.2❄2 MarApril: 1.80 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.8 AprMay: 2.66 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.7 MayJune: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 2.29 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 2.3❄1 OctNovember: 0.73 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 0.7❄1 NovDecember: 0.80 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.8❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Liberal, KS (5 mi away); precipitation: Liberal, KS (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Liberal

679016b
−5 to 0 °F
679056b
−5 to 0 °F

Kansas planting zones →

Questions about Liberal

What planting zone is Liberal, KS?

Liberal, KS is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Liberal, KS?

The median last spring frost is April 20 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Liberal station).

When can I plant a garden in Liberal, KS?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 9 – Mar 30; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Liberal, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Liberal, KS get?

About 21.1 inches of precipitation a year and 14 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).