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

Planting zone for 66846 — Council Grove, KS

ZIP code 66846 (Council Grove, Morris County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 66846 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 11
First frostOct 25
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 Council Grove, 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 Council Grove, KS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season194 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 2.

From the NOAA station Council Grove Lake, KS — 3 miles away, elevation 1,316 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 66846

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 66846 came on Feb 25 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

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 Council Grove, KS.

Soil in Council Grove, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 66846 is Mason — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mason and Reading silt loams, rarely 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 66846; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Council Grove, KS

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights120nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,221base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 28 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation35 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall12 inper year; 17 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 20 °F 40°20° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 55 °F 75°55° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 65 °F 85°65° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 67 °F 89°67° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 24 °F 44°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.76 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 0.8❄4 JanFebruary: 1.26 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 1.3❄3 FebMarch: 2.24 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 2.2❄1 MarApril: 3.42 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.4 AprMay: 5.15 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.42 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.42 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.4 OctNovember: 1.73 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.7❄1 NovDecember: 1.12 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 1.1❄3 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

668736b
Wilsey, KS · 11 mi
668696b
Strong City, KS · 12 mi
668356b
Americus, KS · 14 mi
668346b
Alta Vista, KS · 15 mi
668336b
Allen, KS · 16 mi
668496b
Dwight, KS · 18 mi
668506b
Elmdale, KS · 21 mi
668016b
Emporia, KS · 21 mi

Kansas planting zones →

Questions about 66846

What planting zone is ZIP code 66846?

ZIP code 66846 (Council Grove, 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 Council Grove, KS?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 66846 is April 11; after April 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Council Grove Lake station.

When is the first frost in Council Grove, KS?

The median first fall frost near 66846 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 194 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 66846?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 66846 get?

About 35 inches of precipitation a year and 12 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Council Grove Lake station).

How hot do summers get in Council Grove, KS?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 47 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 66846 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mason at the center of ZIP 66846: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Council Grove, KS in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 66846 came on Feb 25 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Council Grove, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 66846 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 66846 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 66846 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.