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

Planting zone for 67731 — Bird City, KS

ZIP code 67731 (Bird City, Cheyenne County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 67731 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F

Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C

Last frostMay 4

First frostOct 12

2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bird City, 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 Bird City, KS

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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

Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 28

Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Mc Donald, KS — 9 miles away, elevation 3,363 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 67731

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6

SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27

LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27

TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23

TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1

BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25

Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31

GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 67731 came on Feb 24 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21).

average
Mar 212026
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 6a in Kansas

425 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kansas, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 Bird City, KS.

Soil in Bird City, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 67731 is Kuma — 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 matter3%moderate

Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly

Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Kuma silt loam, 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 67731; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bird City, KS

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July

Winter low17 °Faverage low, January

Hot days54days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights153nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days3,367base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21

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

Precipitation20.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall34 inper year; 37 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: Mc Donald, KS (9 mi away); precipitation: Mc Donald, KS (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

4 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

677456a

Mc Donald, KS · 11 mi

677566a

Saint Francis, KS · 16 mi

677306a

Atwood, KS · 23 mi

690215b

Benkelman, NE · 26 mi

Kansas planting zones →

Questions about 67731

What planting zone is ZIP code 67731?

ZIP code 67731 (Bird City, KS) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Bird City, KS?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 67731 is May 4; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mc Donald station.

When is the first frost in Bird City, KS?

The median first fall frost near 67731 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 67731?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 67731 get?

About 20.8 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mc Donald station).

How hot do summers get in Bird City, KS?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 54 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 67731 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kuma at the center of ZIP 67731: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Bird City, KS in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 67731 came on Feb 24 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bird City, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 67731 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 67731 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 67731 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.