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Frost dates and planting calendar for Joplin, Missouri

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
7a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 9[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 27[3]
Growing season, median
200 days[4]

Joplin, Missouri sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a[1]. The median last spring frost is April 9, which means a last frost after that date in half of years[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 24, half of years Apr 9, 1 in 10 years after Apr 26Last frostmedian Apr 9First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 9, half of years Oct 27, 1 in 10 years before Oct 12First frostmedian Oct 27Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 12 to Mar 26Mar 12 to Mar 26Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 26 to Apr 9Mar 26 to Apr 9TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 9around Apr 9Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 23from Apr 23
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates are odds from NOAA records for 1991 to 2020, not a forecast[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 9, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 26[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 27, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 12[3]. Any year can be earlier or later. The numbers come from the Joplin Regional Airport weather station[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 24 after April 9 after April 26
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 12 before October 27 before November 9
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 29, median first fall date November 4[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 178 days in 9 of 10 years, 200 days in half of years and 221 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Joplin Regional Airport (USW00013987), 4.9 miles from the city center, 980 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so the dates here are a GardenFacts calculation and not local advice[6]. We use the NOAA median last frost of April 9 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is March 12 to March 26[6]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be seeded around April 9[9]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers are typically planted 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, and the earliest start is April 23[10].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 9) is March 12 to March 26[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 9) is March 26, up to the median date itself[11]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 9[9]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 9), is April 23[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 12 May 16 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 12 Jun 5 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 12 May 1
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 12 May 11
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 12 Jun 30
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 12 May 16
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 12 Apr 11
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 12 Apr 21
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 12 May 1
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 26 May 25
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 26 Jun 4
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 26 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 26 Jun 4
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 26 Jul 29
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 26 May 25
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 9 Jun 8
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 9 Jun 8
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 9 Jun 3
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 9 May 29
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 23 Jul 17
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 23 Jun 22 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 23 Jul 2 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 23 Jun 27 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 23 Aug 1
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 23 Jul 17
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Joplin in zone 7a, which means an average coldest night of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on the coldest winter night, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Joplin overlaps 3 ZIP code areas, and by land area 100% lies in zone 7a ZIP code areas[15].

Zone 7a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 0°F to 5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 1.7°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 7a and what zone 7a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
64804[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
64801[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
64870[15] 7a 0 to 5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Joplin, Missouri?
The center of Joplin is in USDA zone 7a on the 2023 map[1]. All of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a[15].
When is the last frost in Joplin?
The median last spring frost is April 9, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 26[2].
When is the first frost in Joplin?
The median first fall frost is October 27, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 12[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Joplin?
Tomatoes are a very tender vegetable, which CSU says is typically planted 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[10]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is April 23[10].
How long is the growing season in Joplin?
The growing season is at least 200 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 178 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Joplin, Missouri in zone 7a. Zone 7a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 1.7°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 24, in half of years after April 9, and in 1 of 10 years after April 26 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 9. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 12, in half of years before October 27, and in 9 of 10 years before November 9 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 27. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 178 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 200 days in half of years, and at least 221 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Joplin Regional Airport weather station (USW00013987), 4.9 miles from the center of Joplin at 980 feet, using 30 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is March 29 and the median first fall date is November 4. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Joplin, Missouri overlaps 3 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.