Salisbury, MO Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Apr 12
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Oct 22
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
193 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 6b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 30 Apr 12 Apr 29
First fall frost Nov 2 Oct 22 Oct 9
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Apr 2 · first Nov 1

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the SALISBURY 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 Salisbury

Computed from Salisbury's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-6 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 15 – Mar 1 Apr 19 – Apr 26
🫑 Peppers Feb 1 – Feb 15 Apr 26 – May 3
🥬 Lettuce Mar 1 – Mar 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29 Mar 15 – Apr 12
🫛 Peas Mar 1 – Mar 15
🥕 Carrots Mar 22 – Apr 12
🥦 Broccoli Feb 22 – Mar 8 Mar 22 – Apr 5
🥬 Kale Mar 1 – Mar 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29 Mar 15 – Mar 29
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 15 – Mar 22 Apr 19 – Apr 26 Apr 19 – Apr 26
🥒 Zucchini Mar 15 – Mar 22 Apr 19 – Apr 26 Apr 19 – Apr 26
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 19 – Apr 26
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 19 – Apr 26
🌿 Basil Mar 1 – Mar 15 Apr 19 – Apr 26 Apr 26 – May 3
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 10 – Oct 8

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 Salisbury's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Salisbury

Roughly 193 frost-free days gives Salisbury gardeners room for nearly every common vegetable. Warm-season crops go out after Apr 12; a fall garden sown in late summer matures comfortably before the Oct 22 frost.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Salisbury, MO?

The average last spring frost in Salisbury is around Apr 12, 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 Salisbury, MO?

The average first fall frost in Salisbury arrives around Oct 22. 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 Salisbury?

About 193 frost-free days on average, from Apr 12 to Oct 22. That fits nearly all common vegetables, though the longest-season melons and sweet potatoes benefit from transplants.

What USDA zone is Salisbury in?

USDA zone 6b 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.