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

Planting zone for Independence, MO

Independence, MO is in USDA zones 6a to 6b across its 9 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost October 27.

Independence on the zone map

Outlined: its 8 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 codes9
Last frostApr 10
First frostOct 27
Growing season198 days

6a 1 ZIP   6b 8 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Independence, MO…

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 Independence, MO

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 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 27median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Independence, MO, elevation 984 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 Independence

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 64050 came on Feb 25 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).

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 Missouri

516 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Missouri, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbald cypress130 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Shrubs 82

alternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 190

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high 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 °F

Grasses 155

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblister sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 10

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °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 Independence, MO.

Soil in Independence, MO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 64050 is Knox — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Knox silt loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes, eroded.

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 64050; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Independence, MO

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days31days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights113nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,848base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation44.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall13 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 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 64 °F 83°64° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 66 °F 86°66° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 34 °F 53°34° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.50 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 1.5❄4 JanFebruary: 1.86 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 1.9❄3 FebMarch: 2.88 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.9❄2 MarApril: 4.43 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.4 AprMay: 5.99 in precipitation 6.0 MayJune: 5.28 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JulAugust: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 AugSeptember: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 SepOctober: 3.54 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.5 OctNovember: 2.40 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 2.4❄1 NovDecember: 1.84 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 1.8❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Independence, MO (4 mi away); precipitation: Independence, MO (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Independence

640506b
−5 to 0 °F
640516b
−5 to 0 °F
640526b
−5 to 0 °F
640536b
−5 to 0 °F
640546b
−5 to 0 °F
640556b
−5 to 0 °F
640566b
−5 to 0 °F
640576b
−5 to 0 °F
640586a
−10 to −5 °F

Missouri planting zones →

Questions about Independence

What planting zone is Independence, MO?

Independence, MO 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 Independence, MO?

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

When can I plant a garden in Independence, MO?

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 Independence, MO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Independence, MO get?

About 44.7 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).