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Planting Calendar for Colby, KS

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 3 (at COLBY 1SW, KS climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 15-Sep 19
Moon Aug 15-19, Sep 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 11-Aug 8
Moon Jul 22-Aug 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 25-Aug 15
Moon Aug 4-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 4-11
Moon Jul 5-11
Frost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 13-27
Moon Jun 13-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 4-11
Moon Jul 5-11
Frost Jul 25-Aug 1
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 18-25
Moon Jul 22-25
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 27-Jul 4
Frost Jul 11-18
Moon Jul 11-18
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 11-Aug 8
Moon Jul 11-21, Aug 4-8
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 4-18
Moon Jul 5-18
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 17-31
Moon Oct 18-31
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 18-Aug 1
Moon Jul 18-21
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 1-22
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 1-22
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 22-Sep 5
Moon Aug 22-Sep 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 15-Sep 5
Moon Aug 15-19, Sep 2-5
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 1-3
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 8 (at COLBY 1SW, KS climate station, elevation 3169 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Sep 5
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 6
May 8
BasilFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
Aug 22
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 6
Frost Apr 10-17
May 22
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/AJul 11
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jun 19
BroccoliFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Aug 1
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Jun 27
CabbageFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 15
CantaloupesFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 8-22
Moon May 8-22
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 15-22
Jun 27
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 24
Jul 25
CauliflowerFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 1-15
Moon May 7-15
N/AJul 18
CeleryFrost Feb 13-27
Moon Feb 13-24
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost May 8
Moon May 8
Jul 25
ChivesFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Aug 8
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 8-22
Moon May 8-22
May 29
CollardsFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Jul 25
CucumbersFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jul 25
DillN/AN/AFrost May 1-22
Moon May 7-22
Aug 8
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jun 27
EggplantsFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/AJul 25
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
FennelFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 15-22
Frost May 8-22
Moon May 8-22
Jul 18
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 15-Jun 5
Moon May 15-23
Jul 25
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jul 4
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
KohlrabiFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
LeeksFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
N/AJun 20
LettuceFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
Jul 25
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 24
N/AJun 27
OreganoFrost Feb 27-Mar 27
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
N/AJul 25
ParsleyFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost Apr 10-May 15
Moon Apr 10-23, May 7-15
Jul 18
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Jun 27
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 29-Jun 12
Moon May 29-Jun 5
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 24
Jul 25
PumpkinsFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jun 20
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Aug 8
RosemaryFrost Feb 13-27
Moon Feb 13-24
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/AAug 8
SageFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
N/AJul 18
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 24
Jun 27
SpinachFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
Jul 18
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 24-Jun 5
Jun 20
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 17-May 8
Moon Apr 17-23, May 7-8
May 22
ThymeFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 15-22
N/AJul 11
TomatillosFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
N/AJul 18
TomatoesFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/AJul 4
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Sep 5
WatermelonsFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 15-22
Jul 4
Winter SquashFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jun 13
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Aug 1
The Old Farmer's Store