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

Planting zone for 67526 — Ellinwood, KS

ZIP code 67526 (Ellinwood, Barton County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 67526 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 18

First frostOct 21

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 Ellinwood, 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 Ellinwood, KS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMay 2only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 5

Growing season185 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Hudson, KS — 15 miles away, elevation 1,867 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 67526

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21

SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11

LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11

TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7

TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16

BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9

GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 67526 came on Feb 23 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

average
Mar 142026
Feb 23

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 Ellinwood, KS.

Soil in Ellinwood, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 67526 is Pratt — loamy fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding

pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0

DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class

Organic matter0.7%low — add compost

Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast

Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Pratt loamy fine sand, 1 to 5 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 67526; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ellinwood, KS

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July

Winter low21 °Faverage low, January

Hot days77days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights113nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days4,366base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 50 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully

Precipitation28.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hudson, KS (15 mi away); precipitation: Ellinwood #1, KS (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

Great Bend, KS · 14 mi

Hoisington, KS · 22 mi

Kansas planting zones →

Questions about 67526

What planting zone is ZIP code 67526?

ZIP code 67526 (Ellinwood, 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 Ellinwood, KS?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 67526 is April 18; after May 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hudson station.

When is the first frost in Ellinwood, KS?

The median first fall frost near 67526 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 185 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 67526?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 21 – Mar 7 and set transplants outside around Apr 25 – May 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 67526 get?

About 28.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ellinwood #1 station).

How hot do summers get in Ellinwood, KS?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in July, with about 77 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 67526 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pratt at the center of ZIP 67526: loamy fine sand, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ellinwood, KS in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 67526 came on Feb 23 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ellinwood, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 67526 is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 67526 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 67526 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.