Image from USDA
Characteristics of Kansas’ Planting Region
Kansas boasts a continental climate, giving you a front-row seat to nature's grand show of four distinct seasons:
- Springs burst onto the scene with vibrant wildflowers and unpredictable weather
- Summers sizzle with heat and humidity, perfect for your sun-loving crops
- Falls paint the landscape in warm hues, with gradually cooling temperatures
- Winters can be a wild card, ranging from mild to bone-chilling cold.
As a Kansas gardener, you're in for an adventure with:
- Dramatic temperature swings, especially in spring and fall
- Hot, often dry summers that can test your watering skills
- Early fall frosts in some regions, keeping you on your toes
- Potential for severe weather, from tornadoes to ice storms
- Wide-open spaces that invite wind (and sometimes your plants for a dance)
- Rich, fertile soils in many areas, but also challenging clay in others
Despite these quirks, Kansas offers a generous growing season. Most areas enjoy frost-free days from early April through late October, giving you a solid 180-210 days to flex your green thumb.
Challenges of Growing in Kansas
1. Prairie Winds
The open plains of Kansas can turn your garden into a wind tunnel. While this helps pollinate your corn, it can wreak havoc on more delicate plants.
2. Soil Variations
From the rich loess of the northeast to the sandy soils of the southwest, your garden's needs vary widely depending on where you plant your roots.
3. Pest Pressures
The abundant farmland attracts a variety of pests. You might find yourself hosting unwanted guests like grasshoppers, corn earworms, or Japanese beetles.
The Benefits of Using a Greenhouse in Kansas
While Kansas offers a decent outdoor growing season, a greenhouse can be your secret weapon against the Midwest's mercurial weather.
1- Extend Your Growing Season
- Without a Greenhouse: Typical outdoor growing in central Kansas runs from early April to late October.
- With a Greenhouse: Start planting as early as February and keep the harvest coming well into December. Imagine fresh tomatoes for your Christmas dinner!
Learn more about your area's specific growing dates and the best vegetables to plant in each part of Kansas.
Customer images of their Greenhouse setup in Kansas
2. Grow a Wider Variety of Vegetables Without a Greenhouse:
- Without a Greenhouse:
Kansas's outdoor gardens shine with:
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- With a Greenhouse:
A controlled environment allows for a wider variety of plants, including those that prefer warmer temperatures or a longer growing season.
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Why Planta Greenhouses?
- Wind resistant up to 65 mph (learn more about how our greenhouses hold up in high-altitude climates).
- Withstands a snow load of up to 98 psf (480kg/square meter).
- Made with a heavy-duty galvanized steel frame.
- Polycarbonate panels provide 100% protection against UV rays.
- The Sungrow greenhouse is bell-shaped - allows the wind, snow, and hail to slide off the sides.
- Extendable (Sungrow, Sigma and Farmer models can be extended beyond 100ft)
- Made in Europe and are exclusively imported
- Maintenance-free