What to plant this week in Kansas City, MO
Kansas City gardeners are in the thick of late summer heat, with harvests like Beefsteak tomatoes, sweet corn, and okra ready to pull right now. While soil temperatures remain high enough for sowing warm-season crops like Zinnia or Malabar Spinach, you must brace for the region's notorious July-September thunderstorms that can quickly turn local clay into mud.
The next 7 days
Kansas City, MOGrowing in Kansas City right now
- The area's heavy clay soils in Jackson and Clay counties require frequent aeration now to prevent compaction after recent rains; mix in compost before planting any new summer crops.
- Kansas City summers often push temperatures above 95°F, so provide afternoon shade for newly sown Basil or Cucumber seedlings to reduce heat stress and leaf scorch.
- Plan your harvest rotation carefully for fall crops like Rutabaga and Brussels Sprouts, as the first frost around late October will end their active growth phase.
- If planting now in low spots prone to runoff from nearby creeks, use raised beds to ensure Yellow Summer Squash and Pole Beans don't sit in standing water.
Sow this week
17 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Summer Savory
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
58 crops- Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Honeydew Melon
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Marconi Pepper
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Serrano Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the summer.
- Mulch around young tomato and pepper plants to retain soil moisture as temperatures rise above 80°F.
- Thin carrot and beet seedlings now to prevent overcrowding and ensure sturdy root development.
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for aphid swarms on the undersides of Tomato leaves, which is a common issue during this humid late summer window.
- Watch for cutworms attacking young transplanted peppers and squash at soil level just before evening rain sets in.
- Check for spider mites on Malabar Spinach and Zucchini plants if the recent weather has included several hot, dry days.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to encourage deep root growth and reduce evaporation losses during this hot season.
Harvest sweet corn when the kernels are milky and firm, not yet hard or fully browned, for peak sweetness.
Kansas City gardening questions
3Can I still start outdoor tomatoes or peppers this week?
It is too late to transplant tomatoes outdoors now since frost dates are approaching in late October; focus instead on sowing heat-loving annuals like Zinnia or Cleome directly into the ground.
When should I plant my fall vegetables for winter storage?
For crops like Rutabaga and Parsnip that need cold soil to sweeten, aim to sow seeds now so they mature just ahead of the October 24 frost date.
How do I protect my watermelons and cantaloupes from the upcoming storms?
Cover low-hanging fruit with breathable row covers or cardboard boxes to prevent physical damage from hail or strong wind-driven rain.
Other cities in zone 6b
12See the full zone 6b guide → · Plan your Kansas City garden in SproutGuide →