El Dorado, KS Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every El Dorado garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Apr 13
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Oct 25
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
195 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 7a
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 28 Apr 13 Apr 27
First fall frost Nov 7 Oct 25 Oct 11
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Apr 3 · first Nov 2

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the EL DORADO station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for El Dorado

Computed from El Dorado's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-7 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 16 – Mar 2 Apr 20 – Apr 27
🫑 Peppers Feb 2 – Feb 16 Apr 27 – May 4
🥬 Lettuce Mar 2 – Mar 16 Mar 16 – Mar 30 Mar 16 – Apr 13
🫛 Peas Mar 2 – Mar 16
🥕 Carrots Mar 23 – Apr 13
🥦 Broccoli Feb 23 – Mar 9 Mar 23 – Apr 6
🥬 Kale Mar 2 – Mar 16 Mar 16 – Mar 30 Mar 16 – Mar 30
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 16 – Mar 23 Apr 20 – Apr 27 Apr 20 – Apr 27
🥒 Zucchini Mar 16 – Mar 23 Apr 20 – Apr 27 Apr 20 – Apr 27
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 20 – Apr 27
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 20 – Apr 27
🌿 Basil Mar 2 – Mar 16 Apr 20 – Apr 27 Apr 27 – May 4
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 13 – Oct 11

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use El Dorado's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in El Dorado

Roughly 195 frost-free days gives El Dorado gardeners room for nearly every common vegetable. Warm-season crops go out after Apr 13; a fall garden sown in late summer matures comfortably before the Oct 25 frost.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in El Dorado, KS?

The average last spring frost in El Dorado is around Apr 13, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in El Dorado, KS?

The average first fall frost in El Dorado arrives around Oct 25. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in El Dorado?

About 195 frost-free days on average, from Apr 13 to Oct 25. That fits nearly all common vegetables, though the longest-season melons and sweet potatoes benefit from transplants.

What USDA zone is El Dorado in?

USDA zone 7a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.