Frost dates for ZIP 66854 (Hartford, 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, Emporia Muni AP, KS (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)193 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 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 66854 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
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 May 28 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 23: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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) | Mar 29 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 27 |
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) | Oct 9 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 24 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 12 | Oct 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 2 | Nov 1 |
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 66854
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 12) and first fall frost (Oct 23). 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 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 22–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 1–15 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 15–Mar 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 19 (transplant) Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 15–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 8–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 15–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 15–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 15–22 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 1–15 | Apr 26–May 10 (transplant) Apr 26–May 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 18–Feb 1 | Apr 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 1–15 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 29–Apr 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 1–15 | Mar 29–Apr 12 (transplant) Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (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 12 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Emporia Muni AP, KS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013989), elevation 1,209 ft, 12.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Redmond Lake, KS | 13 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 26 |
| Emporia 3 NW, KS | 17 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 23 |
| Melvern Lake, KS | 23 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 66854
When is the last frost in 66854?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 66854 is April 12. For a more cautious planting date, use April 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 66854?
The average first fall freeze is October 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 9.
What hardiness zone is 66854?
ZIP 66854 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 66854 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
66864 Neosho Rapids 66860 Madison 66839 Burlington 66852 Gridley 66856 Lebo 66865 Olpe 66801 Emporia 66868 Reading
Other ZIP codes in Lyon County
66801 66830 66833 66835 66864 66865 66868 All Lyon County frost dates · Kansas frost dates
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