Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 66044 (Lawrence, KS)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Lawrence Muni AP, KS (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)177 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
54°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Ku-Nesa, 2 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 65°, Fri 56°, Sat 54°.
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 62°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Ku-Nesa, 2 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 72°, Fri 66°, Sat 63°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 66044 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Jun 6 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 6 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 17 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 31 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 21 | Oct 17 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 66044
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 17). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Mar 31–Apr 21 (transplant) Mar 24–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) Jul 11–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Mar 24–Apr 21 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (transplant) Jul 11–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 10–24 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 10–24 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 10–24 | Apr 7–28 (transplant) Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 17–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 5–19 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 24–Mar 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 11 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 12–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 24–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 24–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 24–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 24–31 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 24–31 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 10–24 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 27–Feb 10 | Apr 28–May 5 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 10–24 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 21–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Kansas has a university or garden plant program: Prairie Star Flowers. Plant frost-tender annuals after April 21 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Lawrence Muni AP, KS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003997), elevation 832 ft, 1.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence, KS | 6 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 28 |
| Clinton Lake, KS | 9 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 22 |
| Perry Lake, KS | 12 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 66044
When is the last frost in 66044?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 66044 is April 21. For a more cautious planting date, use May 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 66044?
The average first fall freeze is October 17. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 29.
What hardiness zone is 66044?
ZIP 66044 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 66044 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
66045 Lawrence 66049 Lawrence 66046 Lawrence 66086 Tonganoxie 66052 Linwood 66073 Perry 66025 Eudora 66050 Lecompton
Other ZIP codes in Douglas County
66006 66025 66045 66046 66047 66049 66050 All Douglas County frost dates · Kansas frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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