St Charles 7 SSW, MO Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every St Charles 7 SSW garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Apr 4
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Oct 29
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
208 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 7a
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 20 Apr 4 Apr 21
First fall frost Nov 11 Oct 29 Oct 15
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 25 · first Nov 8

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the ST CHARLES 7 SSW station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for St Charles 7 SSW

Computed from St Charles 7 SSW's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-7 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 7 – Feb 21 Apr 11 – Apr 18
🫑 Peppers Jan 24 – Feb 7 Apr 18 – Apr 25
🥬 Lettuce Feb 21 – Mar 7 Mar 7 – Mar 21 Mar 7 – Apr 4
🫛 Peas Feb 21 – Mar 7
🥕 Carrots Mar 14 – Apr 4
🥦 Broccoli Feb 14 – Feb 28 Mar 14 – Mar 28
🥬 Kale Feb 21 – Mar 7 Mar 7 – Mar 21 Mar 7 – Mar 21
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 7 – Mar 14 Apr 11 – Apr 18 Apr 11 – Apr 18
🥒 Zucchini Mar 7 – Mar 14 Apr 11 – Apr 18 Apr 11 – Apr 18
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 11 – Apr 18
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 11 – Apr 18
🌿 Basil Feb 21 – Mar 7 Apr 11 – Apr 18 Apr 18 – Apr 25
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 17 – Oct 15

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use St Charles 7 SSW's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in St Charles 7 SSW

With roughly 208 frost-free days, St Charles 7 SSW gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Oct 29 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in St Charles 7 SSW, MO?

The average last spring frost in St Charles 7 SSW is around Apr 4, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in St Charles 7 SSW, MO?

The average first fall frost in St Charles 7 SSW arrives around Oct 29. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in St Charles 7 SSW?

About 208 frost-free days on average, from Apr 4 to Oct 29. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is St Charles 7 SSW in?

USDA zone 7a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.