When to Plant Peppers in Kansas
In Kansas, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Apr 18 – May 2 in Kansas City to May 12 – May 26 in Garden City. In Wichita, it's Apr 25 – May 9. The average last spring frost differs by about 3 weeks across the state (Apr 4 in Kansas City, Apr 28 in Garden City), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Kansas by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andover | 7a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Arkansas City | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Atchison | 6a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Bel Aire | 7a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Derby | 7a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Dodge City | 6b | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 19 |
| El Dorado | 6b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Emporia | 6b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Garden City | 6b | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | May 12 – May 26 |
| Gardner | 6b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Great Bend | 6b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | May 8 – May 22 |
| Hays | 6b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Haysville | 7a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Hutchinson | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Junction City | 6b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Kansas City | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Lansing | 6b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Lawrence | 6b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Leavenworth | 6b | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Leawood | 6b | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Lenexa | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Liberal | 6b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Manhattan | 6a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| McPherson | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Merriam | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Mission | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Newton | 6b | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Olathe | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Ottawa | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Overland Park | 6b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Park City | 7a | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Parsons | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Pittsburg | 7a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Prairie Village | 6b | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Salina | 6b | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | May 2 – May 16 |
| Shawnee | 6b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Spring Hill | 6b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Topeka | 6b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Wichita | 7a | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Winfield | 7a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Kansas, or the general guide to when to plant peppers.
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