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

Planting zone for Wichita, KS

Wichita, KS is in USDA zone 7a across its 32 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost October 27.

Wichita on the zone map

Outlined: its 27 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes32
Last frostApr 10
First frostOct 27
Growing season198 days

7a 32 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Wichita, 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 Wichita, KS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Wichita Jabara Airport, KS, elevation 1,421 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 Wichita

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 27 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 1 – Sep 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 13 – Nov 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Oct 27) 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 67201 came on Feb 16 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 10).

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 7a in Kansas

439 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kansas, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 65

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 179

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 137

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 12

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °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 °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 Wichita, KS.

Soil in Wichita, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 67201 is Tabler — silty clay loam, moderately well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Tabler complex, 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 67201; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wichita, KS

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days65days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights103nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,612base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation35.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° JanFebruary: average high 49 °F, low 26 °F 49°26° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 70 °F 93°70° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 69 °F 91°69° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 25 °F 46°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 1.30 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 MarApril: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 5.57 in precipitation 5.6 MayJune: 5.14 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 1.56 in precipitation 1.6 NovDecember: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wichita, KS (6 mi away); precipitation: Wichita 3.2 Nw, KS (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Wichita

672017a
0 to 5 °F
672027a
0 to 5 °F
672037a
0 to 5 °F
672047a
0 to 5 °F
672057a
0 to 5 °F
672067a
0 to 5 °F
672077a
0 to 5 °F
672087a
0 to 5 °F
672097a
0 to 5 °F
672107a
0 to 5 °F
672117a
0 to 5 °F
672127a
0 to 5 °F
672137a
0 to 5 °F
672147a
0 to 5 °F
672157a
0 to 5 °F
672167a
0 to 5 °F
672177a
0 to 5 °F
672187a
0 to 5 °F
672197a
0 to 5 °F
672207a
0 to 5 °F
672237a
0 to 5 °F
672267a
0 to 5 °F
672277a
0 to 5 °F
672287a
0 to 5 °F
672307a
0 to 5 °F
672327a
0 to 5 °F
672357a
0 to 5 °F
672607a
0 to 5 °F
672757a
0 to 5 °F
672767a
0 to 5 °F
672777a
0 to 5 °F
672787a
0 to 5 °F

Kansas planting zones →

Questions about Wichita

What planting zone is Wichita, KS?

Wichita, KS is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Wichita, KS?

The median last spring frost is April 10 and the median first fall frost is October 27 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wichita Jabara Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Wichita, KS?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 27 – Mar 20; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 17, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Wichita, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Wichita, KS get?

About 35.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).