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

Planting zone for Manhattan, KS

Manhattan, KS is in USDA zones 6a to 6b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 19.

Manhattan on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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.

Zones6a–6b−10 to 0 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostApr 16
First frostOct 19
Growing season185 days

6a 2 ZIPs   6b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, KS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 19median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season185 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Manhattan, KS, elevation 1,060 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 Manhattan

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 24 – Sep 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 5 – Nov 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 19) 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 66506 came on Feb 25 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19).

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 6a in Kansas

425 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kansas, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 174

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 132

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 9

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 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Manhattan, KS.

Soil in Manhattan, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 66506 is Ivan — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ivan and Kennebec silt loams, occasionally flooded.

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 66506; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Manhattan, KS

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days59days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights125nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,172base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation35.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall18 inper year; 20 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 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 69 °F 91°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 32 °F 55°32° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.64 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 0.6❄5 JanFebruary: 1.14 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 1.1❄5 FebMarch: 2.17 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 2.2❄2 MarApril: 3.38 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 AprMay: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 5.47 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 4.62 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 2.50 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 1.62 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 1.6❄1 NovDecember: 1.19 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 1.2❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Manhattan, KS (within 1 mile); precipitation: Manhattan, KS (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Manhattan

665026a
−10 to −5 °F
665036b
−5 to 0 °F
665056b
−5 to 0 °F
665066a
−10 to −5 °F

Kansas planting zones →

Questions about Manhattan

What planting zone is Manhattan, KS?

Manhattan, KS is in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 6b on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F; 6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Manhattan, KS?

The median last spring frost is April 16 and the median first fall frost is October 19 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Manhattan station).

When can I plant a garden in Manhattan, KS?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 5 – Mar 26; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 23, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Manhattan, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Manhattan, KS get?

About 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 18 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).