Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 66226 — Shawnee, KS

ZIP code 66226 (Shawnee, Johnson County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 66226 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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

Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C

Last frostApr 16

First frostOct 22

2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Shawnee, 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 Shawnee, 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 22median — 10% chance by Oct 9

Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Bonner Springs, KS — 3 miles away, elevation 850 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 66226

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 27 – Sep 10

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 66226 came on Feb 24 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

average
Mar 162026
Feb 24

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.

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 Shawnee, KS.

Soil in Shawnee, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 66226 is Sharpsburg — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables

pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter3%moderate

Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly

Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Sharpsburg silt loam, 4 to 8 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 66226; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Shawnee, KS

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July

Winter low18 °Faverage low, January

Hot days34days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights128nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days3,769base 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

Precipitation40.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall17 inper year; 19 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

662186b

Shawnee, KS · 3 mi

660126b

Bonner Springs, KS · 4 mi

Kansas City, KS · 5 mi

All 6 ZIP codes in Shawnee → · Kansas planting zones →

Questions about 66226

What planting zone is ZIP code 66226?

ZIP code 66226 (Shawnee, KS) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Shawnee, KS?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 66226 is April 16; after May 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bonner Springs station.

When is the first frost in Shawnee, KS?

The median first fall frost near 66226 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 66226?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 19 – Mar 5 and set transplants outside around Apr 23 – May 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 66226 get?

About 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 17 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bonner Springs station).

How hot do summers get in Shawnee, KS?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 34 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 66226 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sharpsburg at the center of ZIP 66226: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Shawnee, KS in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 66226 came on Feb 24 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Shawnee, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 66226 is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 66226 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 66226 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.