Last frost date in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
April 5
Average last frost in spring. In an early year (1 in 10) it's over by March 19; in a late year (1 in 10) it comes after April 21.
October 25
Average first frost in fall. 1 year in 10 it comes by October 12.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Cape Girardeau Muni AP (USW00003935), 5.8 miles from Cape Girardeau, elevation 336 ft. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
| Early year | Average | Late year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last frost in spring | Mar 19 | Apr 5 | Apr 21 |
| First frost in fall | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 |
An early or late year is one in 10: 1 year in 10 the frost comes before the early date, and 1 year in 10 after the late date.
Frost-free days in an average year: 201
Planting calendar for Cape Girardeau
Fall planting
USDA dates for places whose average first freeze is about October 20 (Cape Girardeau: October 25).
- Black-eyed peasJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Celery and celeriac plantsJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- CucumbersJune 1 – July 15 (past for this year)
- Eggplant plantsJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- New Zealand spinachJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- OkraJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Peppers plantsJune 1 – July 10 (past for this year)
- SalsifyJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- SoybeansJune 1 – July 5 (past for this year)
- Summer squashJune 1 – July 20 (past for this year)
- Sweet cornJune 1 – July 20 (past for this year)
- Sweet potatoesJune 1 – 15 (past for this year)
- Swiss chardJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- TomatoesJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Winter squashJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)June 15 – July 20 (past for this year)
- CarrotsJune 15 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Florence fennelJune 15 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Lima beansJune 15 – 30 (past for this year)
- PotatoesJune 15 – July 15 (past for this year)
- WatermelonJune 15 – July 20 (past for this year)
- Witloof chicoryJune 15 – July 15 (past for this year)
- BeetsJuly 1 – Aug 5 (past for this year)
- Broccoli plantsJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Brussels sprouts plantsJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Cabbage plantsJuly 1 – 20 (past for this year)
- Cauliflower plantsJuly 1 – Aug 5 (past for this year)
- Snap beansJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- RutabagaJuly 10 – 20 (past for this year)
- Chinese cabbageJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Collards plantsJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- EndiveJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- KaleJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- KohlrabiJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Leaf lettuceJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- ParsleyJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- SorrelJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- TurnipsJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- DandelionAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Head lettuce plantsAug 1 – 30 (past for this year)
- Mustard greensAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- RadishesAug 1 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- SpinachAug 20 – Sept 10 (past for this year)
- Corn saladSept 1 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- Upland cressSept 1 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- Rhubarb plantsOct 15 – Dec 1Now
- Asparagus plantsNov 1 – Dec 15Soon
USDA lists chervil and chives, garlic, horseradish, leeks, onion plants, onion seed, onion sets, parsnips, garden peas, shallots as generally spring-planted here.
Spring planting
USDA dates for places whose average last freeze is about April 10 (Cape Girardeau: April 5).
- Corn saladFeb 1 – Apr 1
- SpinachFeb 15 – Apr 1
- Garden peasFeb 20 – Mar 20
- GarlicFeb 20 – Mar 20
- Cabbage plantsMar 1 – Apr 1
- Cauliflower plantsMar 1 – 20
- Chervil and chivesMar 1 – Apr 1
- Collards plantsMar 1 – June 1
- DandelionMar 1 – Apr 1
- LeeksMar 1 – Apr 1
- Onion plants plantsMar 1 – Apr 1
- Onion seedMar 1 – Apr 1
- Onion setsMar 1 – Apr 1
- RadishesMar 1 – May 1
- Rhubarb plantsMar 1 – Apr 1
- ShallotsMar 1 – Apr 1
- SorrelMar 1 – Apr 15
- TurnipsMar 1 – Apr 1
- Asparagus plantsMar 10 – Apr 10
- BeetsMar 10 – June 1
- CarrotsMar 10 – Apr 20
- Head lettuce plantsMar 10 – Apr 1
- Horseradish plantsMar 10 – Apr 10
- KaleMar 10 – Apr 1
- KohlrabiMar 10 – Apr 10
- Mustard greensMar 10 – Apr 20
- ParsleyMar 10 – Apr 10
- ParsnipsMar 10 – Apr 10
- PotatoesMar 10 – Apr 1
- SalsifyMar 10 – Apr 15
- Upland cressMar 10 – Apr 15
- Broccoli plantsMar 15 – Apr 15
- Brussels sprouts plantsMar 15 – Apr 15
- EndiveMar 15 – Apr 15
- Florence fennelMar 15 – Apr 15
- Leaf lettuceMar 15 – May 15
- Swiss chardMar 15 – June 15
- Celery and celeriac plantsApr 1 – 20
- Lima beansApr 1 – June 30
- Snap beansApr 10 – June 30
- Sweet cornApr 10 – June 1
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)Apr 20 – June 1
- CucumbersApr 20 – June 1
- New Zealand spinachApr 20 – June 1
- OkraApr 20 – June 15
- Summer squashApr 20 – June 1
- TomatoesApr 20 – June 1
- WatermelonApr 20 – June 1
- Black-eyed peasMay 1 – July 1
- Eggplant plantsMay 1 – June 1
- Peppers plantsMay 1 – June 1
- SoybeansMay 1 – June 30
- Sweet potatoesMay 1 – June 1
- Witloof chicoryJune 10 – July 1
USDA lists chinese cabbage as generally fall-planted here.
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5 (earliest safe spring and latest safe fall dates), applied to this place's NOAA frost dates. “Plants” means setting out transplants, not sowing seed. How we match the table.
Nearby in Missouri
- Jackson 7 mi · last frost Apr 7
- Sikeston 29 mi · last frost Mar 26
- Farmington 58 mi · last frost Apr 13
- Poplar Bluff 60 mi · last frost Mar 29
- Festus 78 mi · last frost Apr 9