Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 67349 (Howard, 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, Howard, KS (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)186 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
59°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 58°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Abrams (51 mi).
4-inch depth
61°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 60°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Abrams (51 mi).
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 67349 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 61°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 2 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 22: 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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 17 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 30 |
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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 22 |
| 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 27 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 17 | Oct 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 4 | 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 67349
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 17) and first fall frost (Oct 22). 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 20–Mar 6 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 27–Apr 17 (transplant) Mar 20–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 17 (transplant) Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 17 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 6–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 6–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 6–20 | Apr 3–24 (transplant) Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 13–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 20–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Jul 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 20–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 20–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 20–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 20–27 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 20–27 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 23–Feb 6 | Apr 24–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 6–20 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (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 17 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Howard, KS (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00143822), elevation 1,010 ft, 2.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka 1E, KS | 23 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 20 |
| Fredonia, KS | 25 mi | Apr 12 | Oct 26 |
| Sedan, KS | 26 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 67349
When is the last frost in 67349?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 67349 is April 17. For a more cautious planting date, use April 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 67349?
The average first fall freeze is October 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 6.
What hardiness zone is 67349?
ZIP 67349 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 67349 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
67345 Elk Falls 67137 Severy 67122 Piedmont 67353 Moline 67346 Grenola 67352 Longton 67047 Fall River 67012 Beaumont
Other ZIP codes in Elk County
67345 67346 67352 67353 All Elk County frost dates · Kansas frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.