Missouri Vegetable Planting Calendar (MO): Month-wise Chart, Schedule, and Guide for Zone 5, Zone 6, and Zone 7

The trend of veggies at home has been growing steadily over the last several years. Fresh, affordable produce from the garden is beneficial to keeping healthy dietary habits by eating more veggies and saving money on the family food bill. First, plan your vegetable garden. A planting calendar is helpful at this point. Below we learn the Missouri vegetable garden planting calendar, month-by-month chart, seasonal vegetable guide, vegetable gardening schedule, and best vegetables to grow in Missouri in different seasons.

Missouri vegetable planting calendar (MO)

Best vegetables to grow in Missouri

Midway through March and up to the beginning of May is prime planting time for leafy greens, including Swiss chard, lettuce, spinach, parsley, collards, and endive. Plants thrive in the milder temperatures in early spring, and yields can be obtained rapidly. Most have shallow roots, so they need water to germinate and develop quickly. The easiest and most successful forms of lettuce cultivated in Missouri are leaf, butterhead/Bibb, and cos/romaine.

Leaf lettuces come in shades of green and red, and their loosely placed leaves on stalks seem like a rainbow. For baby lettuce, the time to harvest might be as short as 30 days, while a full head could take up to 60 days. Heat-related issues, such as tip burn, are more common in bibb and romaine lettuce than in leaf lettuce. Although radishes and turnips are primarily cultivated for their taproots, the young, fragile leaves found at the plant’s crown are a rich food source in their own right.

Red radishes, often tiny and round, are a fast-growing staple that may be harvested in a month or less. The growth period for French white radishes is somewhat longer. Long, white, and capable of reaching monstrous proportions, “Daikon” variations originate in Asia. It takes around 50–65 days for them to mature.

Vegetables to grow in winter in Missouri

Radishes, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower produce their finest crop when the temperature is cooler. That is why they are crops that thrive in chilly seasons. If they are not planted in the appropriate amount of time, they will not have sufficient time to mature before the heat of Missouri sets in.

Gardening zone of Missouri

There are many diverse plant hardiness zones because Missouri has two extremely different climates for each state. It is hot and humid year-round in the state’s northern regions, and the temperature drops dramatically in the winter. The south has hot, humid summers and chilly, dry winters. When the limitations are reached, wide temperature swings impact the whole state. Despite the lack of large mountains or seas, the climate and ecology are profoundly impacted by the humid, hot, and chilly Arctic air that flows in from the Gulf of Mexico.

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While certain parts of the state can go into the nineties in the summer, the rest of the state normally stays in the seventies. Temperatures in the low 30s are to be expected throughout the winter. Missouri’s environment is good for cultivating many different plants since it spans zones 5b to 7a. Want to know how to identify your growth zones to plant the best flowers, vegetables, and other plants in your area? A planting zone map makes it easy to determine your planting zone.

Gardeners can use the information on climate zones to learn about which plants will flourish in a certain region, when those plants should be planted, and how to get the best results. Planting zones in Missouri are based on the typical timing of each zone’s earliest and latest killing frosts. If you live in Missouri, it’s important to remember that while choosing plants for your garden, you should stick to ones that are hardy in planting zones lower than your own. This will help ensure that plants make it through the winter.

Mississippi has a climate that promotes the development of a wide variety of plant life. If you follow your hardiness zone’s suggestions, you’ll have a higher chance of producing high-yield plants. Some common native plants that thrive in the United States’ mild climate are the cardinal flower, coneflower, spicebush, Missouri columbine, primrose, and palm sedge. In addition, potatoes, rhubarb, peas, peppers, tomatoes, and asparagus thrive in this area’s climate and soil.

When should I plant my vegetable garden in Missouri?

Vegetables from the “cool season” thrive in the moderate spring and autumn weather in East Central Missouri and can even survive a light frost. Growing cool-season veggies is an excellent method to prolong your gardening season over the typical frost-free time. Planting times for most cool-season vegetables are early to mid-March and then again in July and August for an autumn harvest.

Examples of vegetables that thrive in cooler temperatures include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, collard greens, carrots, onions, lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, beets, radishes, potatoes, and peas. The cold is particularly harmful to warm-season veggies. This necessitates postponing their exterior planting until after the risk of frost has passed, often in late April or early May.

Plants are available throughout the warm months, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, maize, cucumbers, green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, and melons. Both asparagus and rhubarb live for many years before dying. Perennial vegetables, which stay in the same spot for several years, should be planted around the garden’s edge in a less-frequented area. So that they don’t compete with the work done to prepare the soil for annual vegetables.

Vegetable gardens often fail because their seeds were planted either too early or too late. Some veggies need a longer growing season (80 to 100 days) to yield fruit. To ensure a successful fruit set and growth, you should get these plants in the ground as soon as possible to beat the summer heat. Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant fall within this category.

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What can I plant in February in Missouri?

You can start planting vegetables like snow peas, lettuce, kale, radishes, and broccoli as early as the end of February. Midway through March, you should sow seeds for cauliflower, cabbage, potatoes, and onions; late March or early April, you should sow seeds for cool-season herbs like cilantro, basil, dill, lavender, and lemon balm.

Midway through March is an excellent time to plant annual flowers such as pansies, lobelia, geraniums, petunias, alyssum, dianthus, snapdragons, and dusty miller. Water the soil to ensure its viability. However, plants need moisture year-round, not only during the warmer months.

When should you plant tomatoes in Missouri?

Plant tomatoes outside after the soil has warmed to a temperature of at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and the weather has stabilized. Colder than 50 degrees Fahrenheit, tomatoes can’t develop properly. Tomatoes can be planted outdoors in southern Missouri between April 20 and May 15. There is a general window of opportunity for planting in Missouri.

The period between May 5 and 20 is ideal in the state’s central region, and between May 10 and 20 is ideal in northern Missouri and the Ozark region. Plants can be put out anywhere from a few days to a week early if gardeners are ready to take precautions against frost.

When should you plant potatoes in Missouri?

Potato growing is complicated. A good crop is possible, provided you use high-quality seed potatoes or potato pieces, plant them under favorable settings, and maintain healthy soil. If you want to grow potatoes in Missouri, the best time is in the early spring, between March and May. On or around March 17, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, many local gardeners sow their seed potatoes. The optimal time to plant sweet potato cultivars is between the middle of April and the beginning of May.

What vegetables can I plant now in Missouri?

Spring planting in Missouri

Complete the garden planting by relocating the surviving broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, and cauliflower seedlings. Transplants benefit immediately from high-phosphorus fertilizers. Before transferring seedlings to the garden, it is best to harden them off in cold frames outside. Indoors in peat pots, plant seeds for cucumbers, cantaloupes, summer squash, and watermelons. Wrap up any remaining seed planting for cool-weather veggies.

Plants of the warm-season kind can have their soil preheated with the help of plastic sheets. Begin to gather your asparagus and rhubarb. Eliminate the asparagus beetle infestation by hand. Weeds can ruin your garden’s appearance if you give them a head start. If flower stalks form on rhubarb plants, they must be pruned off. Green beans, sweet corn, summer squash, New Zealand spinach, and cucumbers are just a few examples of warm-season crops that can benefit from early planting.

Early plantings of cold-season crops, including beets, carrots, lettuce, onions, and radishes, may need to have their seedlings thinned out since they have become overcrowded. Indoors in peat pots, plant luffa, and hard-shell gourds. To prepare seeds for planting, soak them in water for a full night. Plant cool-weather crops in succession. To start, you can plant cucumbers, lima beans, melons, okra, and watermelons. Plant tomato, eggplant, pepper, and sweet potato seedlings now.

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Fall gardening in Missouri

Harvest wastes should be used for composting or tilling beneath. Plant autumn crops such as beans, beets, spinach, and turnips. Planting spinach seeds after they have been stored in the refrigerator for a week can improve germination rates. Before keeping, onions need to be cured for two weeks in a warm, dry environment.

For an autumn garden, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower plants should be planted now. You can start planning your autumn garden now by planting lettuce and radishes. Once sufficient fruit set has occurred, pinch the developing tips of gourds. This shifts the focus away from growing vines and onto ripening the fruits that will be harvested.

Summer gardening in Missouri

Summer consists of June, July, and August. Typically, the hottest weather, highest temperatures and longest days occur throughout these three months. Vegetables like winter squashes, tomatoes, and peppers thrive in these circumstances because the soil is warm and there is plenty of sunlight. If the weather is too warm, you can forget about planting lettuce and broccoli in the spring.

Vegetables can be planted twice if you have a long growing season: once at the beginning of summer (or even earlier) and once in the middle for a late summer harvest. To cultivate your fruits and vegetables, you need to know that different types require different amounts of time to develop. Fall crops, harvested in the late fall or early winter, can also be planted now. To name just a few examples, we have mustard greens, Chinese cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Swiss chard, lettuce, and spinach.

Your vegetable garden got off to a late start. However, frost-resistant plants and fast-growing crops can still be planted now. Choose seeds that will germinate early enough to harvest before the first frost or plant hardy cultivars that can weather the cold. You also can plant fall crops now if the first frost in your region won’t arrive until the middle of September or later. If you take the necessary precautions, cool-season crops like spinach, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and lettuce may be harvested far into winter.

Transplanting crops rather than growing them from seed would speed up the procedure. Some plants develop quickly, while others need two growing seasons before being harvested. This means you must plant your long-season vegetables in the spring or immediately after the last frost if you want to reap the benefits of your labor come summer. However, rapid-growing plants can be picked many times over the summer.

Winter gardening in Missouri

Many bug pests are killed by the winter cold when the vegetable garden is tilled in the fall. Plowing beneath any leftover finished compost is advisable to enrich garden soils. Don’t let plant waste sit in the garden throughout the winter since this might provide a breeding ground for pests and diseases. Now is the time to split rhubarb plants if they have become overcrowded or unproductive.

Carrots, radishes, turnips, and Jerusalem artichokes are all root crops that may be stored well in the soil outside. Bury these crops under several inches of leaves or straw just before the ground freezes. You can harvest as required during the winter by removing the mulch. Make a Thanksgiving wreath using garlic, onions, chili peppers, and herbs. A fortunate buddy will enjoy receiving this delectable treat. To check the soil’s pH and nutrient levels now is the time to take samples.

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Garden hoses can be rolled up on a warm, bright day. A chilly hose is difficult to wrap into a compact loop. Leaves can cause damage to turf grasses. Therefore, it’s important to keep them scraped off the lawn. Mowing the lawn should be continued as long as the grass is growing. Lawns with bluegrass and fescue can now get their last autumn fertilization treatment. Before the onset of cold and rainy weather, clearing the gutters of leaves and other debris is important.

Fix up some bird feeders. In the dead of winter, birds greatly benefit from having access to a water supply that won’t freeze over. Any exterior water lines or watering systems should be turned off and drained before cold winter arrives. The ideal conditions for growing cyclamen indoors are 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, with strong light, uniformly wet soils, consistent fertilizing, and a chilly environment. Houseplants should have their fertilization reduced or stopped altogether till spring.

Missouri vegetable planting calendar/planting guide/monthly chart

Vegetables	Zone 5	Zone 6	Zone 7
Beans	Mid-May to Sep	May to mid-Oct	Apr to mid-Oct
Beets	Apr to June, mid-July to mid-Oct	Mid Mar to June, mid-July to mid-Oct	Mar to May, Aug to Oct
Broccoli	Mid Mar to June, July to Oct	Mar to mid-June, mid-July to Oct	Mid Feb to May, Aug to mid-Nov
Brussel Sprouts	Apr to Oct	May to Oct	Mid Apr to mid-Sep
Cabbage	Mid Apr to Oct	May to Oct	Mar to mid-June, mid-July to Oct
Carrots	Apr to Jun, Aug to mid-Oct	Apr to June, Aug to Oct	Mar to mid-June, Aug to Oct
Cauliflowers	Mid Apr to mid-Oct	Mar to mid-June	Mid Feb to May, Aug to mid-Nov
Corn	Mid-May to mid-Sep	May to Sep	May to Aug
Cucumber	Mid-May to mid-Sep	May to Sep	May to Aug
Kale	Apr to June, mid-July to Oct	Mid Mar to mid-Jun, Aug to mid-Nov	Mar to May, Aug to mid-Nov
Lettuce	Mid Apr to June, mid-July to mid-Oct	Mid Mar to mid-June, Aug to Oct	Mar to May, Aug to Oct
Onions	Apr to Sep	Mid- Mar to Aug	Mar to Aug
Peas	Apr to June, mid-July to mid-Oct	Mid Mar to May, Aug to Oct	Mid Feb to mid-May, mid-Aug to mid-Nov
Peppers	Apr to Sep	Mid Mar to Sep	Mar to Sep
Spinach	Apr to June, mid-July to Oct	Mar to June, mid-July to Oct	Mar to June, Aug to mid-Nov
Squash	Mid-May to Sep	May to Sep	May to mid-Oct
Tomato	Apr to Sep	Mid Mar to Sep	Mar to Sep

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Conclusion

Missouri has a moderate temperature and a long growing season (April through October), which are favorable for cultivating a vegetable garden. However, vegetable gardening in Missouri can be challenging because of the state’s varying climates and temperature zones. If you live in the following counties, cities, or towns in the state of Missouri (MO), this article may help with the basics of the vegetable planting calendar in Missouri, Month wise Chart, Schedule, and Guide for Zone 5, Zone 6, and Zone 7.

St. Louis	Wentzville
Kansas City	Nixa
Springfield	Moberly
Jefferson City	Florissant
Branson	Festus
Columbia	Neosho
Ozark	Warrensburg
Joplin	Camdenton
Independence	Cassville
University City	Harrisonville
Saint Joseph	Ballwin
St. Charles	Monett
Cape Girardeau	Saint Robert
Lee’s Summit	Maryland Heights
Osage Beach	Kirkwood
Rolla	Kennett
Sedalia	Raytown
Poplar Bluff	Excelsior Springs
Chesterfield	Raymore
Blue Springs	Webb City
Sikeston	Mountain Grove
St. Peters	Parkville
West Plains	Creve Coeur
Kirksville	Ste. Genevieve
Fort Leonard Wood

Missouri Vegetable Planting Calendar (MO): Month-wise Chart, Schedule, and Guide for Zone 5, Zone 6, and Zone 7

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