What to plant this week in Kansas City, MO
Kansas City gardeners in zone 6b are right on the edge of your last frost window, with an average date around April 21 meaning late spring air can still chill overnight. This week is the critical time to harden off those transplant-ready seedlings before they meet a potential freeze, while simultaneously enjoying the first harvests from your warm-season crops like zucchini and basil.
The next 7 days
Kansas City, MOGrowing in Kansas City right now
- The clay-heavy soils common in Kansas City drain slowly when rain hits; add organic matter or build raised beds for squash and melons to prevent root rot during our frequent spring showers.
- With frost dates hovering around April 21, do not expose tender transplants like basil or edamame until night temperatures consistently stay above 50°F, as cold snaps can still occur in late May.
- Kansas City's summer heat and humidity create perfect conditions for rapid growth; water deeply at the base of your okra and corn rather than overhead to avoid foliar diseases.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
45 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Keep a close eye on pollinator-friendly flowers like Cosmos and Zinnia to ensure good seed set.
- Harvest bush beans and cucumbers frequently to encourage continued production throughout summer.
- Protect young transplants from late spring chill with row covers if an unexpected cold snap occurs.
- Plan succession sowing for cool-season crops now so they are ready as the weather cools in October.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are likely active on the undersides of tomato leaves now due to rising temperatures, so check plants daily before populations explode.
- Aphids often target new growth on beans and sunflowers; a strong blast of water or an insecticidal soap spray can manage them early in the season.
- Slugs thrive in KC's damp spring weather and will devour young lettuce and seedlings if you don't place copper tape or diatomaceous earth barriers around pots.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal issues on leafy greens.
Save seeds from your best-performing varieties like French Marigold and Zinnia to start your next season's garden early.
Kansas City gardening questions
3Is it safe to put out my basil and zucchini transplants this week?
Not yet. Since the average last frost is April 21, protect these tender plants with row covers until nighttime lows are reliably above freezing, as a late chill can kill them instantly.
My pumpkins and squash are growing fast but look like they might rot in the soil.
Kansas City's clay soil holds moisture too well for many squashes; ensure you are planting them in raised mounds or amended beds to improve drainage and prevent fruit from sitting in wet earth.
When should I plant my garlic this year?
Garlic is listed as harvestable soon, which means fall-planted bulbs are ready now for a final check before ground freeze; new cloves can be planted immediately after the first hard frost or early autumn to establish roots for next summer.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Kansas City garden in SproutGuide →