Which Wichita-area farmers markets run in winter?
We list only markets we could confirm from current published guides (Visit Wichita, April 2026; Wichita Mom, 2026 guide; Travel Kansas, December 2025). Schedules change. Confirm with each market before you plan a crop around it.
| Market | Location | Main season | Winter? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas Grown! Farmers Market – West Wichita | 7001 W. 21st St. N. (Sedgwick County Extension Office) | Saturdays, April–October, 7 a.m.–noon | Yes: indoors at the 4-H Hall on select Saturdays, November–February |
| Old Town Farm & Art Market | 835 E. 1st St. N., downtown | Saturdays, April–October, 8 a.m.–1 p.m. | Holiday season: Saturdays, November–December, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. |
| Kansas Grown! – Derby | 512 E. Madison, Derby | Saturdays, May–October | No |
| Kansas Grown! – Andover | 375 S. Heritage Way, Andover | Saturdays, May–September | No |
| Maize Farm & Art Market | 311 Academy Ave., Maize | June–September, evenings | No |
| Kechi Farmers Market | 4533 E. 61st St. N., Kechi | Thursdays, June–September, 4–6:30 p.m. (guides differ on weekly vs. second Thursday) | No |
| Haysville Hometown Market | 100 S. Main St., Haysville | Summer (guides list different days; check) | No |
| GreenAcres Market pop-up | 10555 W. 21st St. N. | Midweek, summer | No |
Kansas Grown! winter dates. For the 2025–26 season, Travel Kansas listed indoor markets on November 22, December 13 and 20, January 17 and February 7, from 8 a.m. to noon, inside the 4-H Hall at the County Extension Office. The market moves back outdoors in March, weather permitting. Check kansas-grown.com for 2026–27 dates. Visit Wichita describes Kansas Grown! as the largest grower-owned farmers market in Kansas, with more than 100 vendors in season.
That is five winter selling days, not a weekly market. A winter grower should plan for those dates plus direct sales: restaurants, subscriptions, and the Old Town holiday Saturdays.
How long is Wichita's outdoor season, and how much can a greenhouse add?
Freeze dates set the outdoor season. The National Weather Service in Wichita gives the typical ranges:
| Event | Typical range (NWS) | Median, 50% probability (NCEI) | 1-in-10 risk (NCEI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring 32°F freeze | April 5–14 | April 10 | 10% chance of a freeze after April 25 |
| First fall 32°F freeze | October 20–November 4 | October 29 | 10% chance of a freeze before October 11 |
| Last spring 28°F hard freeze | March 26–April 4 | — | — |
| First fall 28°F hard freeze | November 1–14 | — | — |
Median and probability columns: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals.
The math:
- Median freeze-free season: April 10 to October 29 = 202 days.
- Safe-side season (90% of years): April 25 to October 11 = 169 days.
- That leaves 163 to 196 days a year when tender crops outdoors are at risk. A greenhouse turns that window into growing time.
The outdoor markets' April–October calendar tracks this almost exactly. The winter buyers are there; the outdoor supply is not.
Light is the second limit, not just cold
Even a heated greenhouse runs into short days. We computed Wichita's day length (37.69°N, sunrise to sunset, with standard refraction):
| Date | Day length |
|---|---|
| November 1 | 10 h 35 m |
| November 15 | 10 h 08 m |
| December 1 | 9 h 44 m |
| December 21 | 9 h 33 m |
| January 15 | 9 h 51 m |
| February 1 | 10 h 20 m |
| March 1 | 11 h 22 m |
Days are shorter than 10 hours from about November 20 to January 21, 63 days. Leafy crops grow very slowly in that stretch. The practical plan: sow in September and October so plants are near harvest size before November 20, then harvest slowly through December and January. Regrowth picks up again in February.
What grows in a Wichita winter greenhouse, by setpoint?
Setpoint decides both the crop list and the heating bill. The costs below are for a 12 × 20 ft twin-wall polycarbonate greenhouse on natural gas, from our one-winter heating model (example price: EIA Kansas residential, January 2026).
| Night setpoint | What it supports (general horticulture) | Winter degree days (NCEI) | Season gas cost, 12 × 20 twin-wall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unheated or frost-protected only | Spinach, kale, mâche, claytonia, scallions held for slow harvest | — | Little or none |
| 45°F | Lettuce, spinach, chard, arugula, Asian greens (bok choy, tatsoi, mizuna), radishes, parsley, cilantro, microgreens | 1,273 | about $258 |
| 55°F | All of the above with faster regrowth; spring transplant starts from late winter | 2,658 | about $538 |
| 65°F | Warm-season crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers, which also need more light than December gives | 4,592 | about $930 |
Cool-season greens at 45°F are the sweet spot for winter markets: they handle short days, they tolerate cool nights, and the heat costs half of a 55°F house. Warm-season crops in December and January cost the most to heat in the darkest months.
For crop questions, the Sedgwick County Extension garden hotline is 316-660-0190. Extension's local food page also lists its Growing Growers beginner-farmer program and resources on growing for sale.
Does Kansas demand support more greenhouse growers?
The 2022 Census of Agriculture says the sector is growing. From Kansas Table 39:
- Greenhouse vegetables and fresh-cut herbs: 88 farms in 2017, 111 in 2022 (+26%). Covered area grew from 370,798 to 555,936 sq ft (+50%). Sales: $1.91 million.
- Greenhouse tomatoes: 85 farms on 350,481 sq ft.
- Bedding and garden plants under protection: 111 farms on 4,551,732 sq ft. Total bedding and garden plant sales, covered and open: $35.3 million.
That bedding-plant number points to a second use for a winter greenhouse. Transplants started in February and March are ready when Kansas Grown! West opens outdoors in April. One structure can sell greens in January and starts in April.
A first-winter plan for a market grower
- August–September: finish the structure and test heat and ventilation.
- September–October: sow greens so they size up before the short-day stretch begins around November 20.
- November–December: harvest for the Kansas Grown! indoor dates and Old Town holiday Saturdays.
- January: slow harvest; hold heat at the lowest setpoint your crops tolerate.
- February–March: start spring transplants; days pass 10 hours by early February.
- April: outdoor markets open; the greenhouse shifts to transplants and early crops.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a winter farmers market in Wichita?
Yes. Kansas Grown! Farmers Market holds indoor markets at the 4-H Hall in the Sedgwick County Extension Office on select Saturdays from November through February. For 2025–26 the dates were November 22, December 13 and 20, January 17 and February 7, 8 a.m. to noon.
When does Wichita's growing season end?
The NWS lists a typical first fall freeze between October 20 and November 4. NOAA's median first 32°F date is October 29, with a 10% chance of a freeze before October 11.
What can I grow in a greenhouse in a Wichita winter?
At a 45°F night setpoint: lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, Asian greens, arugula, radishes, parsley, cilantro and microgreens. Tomatoes and cucumbers need warm nights and more light, which makes them expensive in December and January.
How much does it cost to heat a market greenhouse in Wichita?
A 12 × 20 ft twin-wall greenhouse at 45°F needs about 16.9 million BTU in an average winter, roughly $258 on natural gas at the January 2026 EIA Kansas residential price. Our heating guide shows the full model.
When do Wichita's days get too short for good growth?
Day length falls below 10 hours from about November 20 to January 21, bottoming at 9 hours 33 minutes on December 21. Plan to have crops near harvest size before that stretch.
Ready to build?
- Commercial greenhouse construction: gutter-connected and freestanding production houses for year-round growers.
- High tunnel and hoop house installation: unheated season extension, with cost-share help in our NRCS guide.
- Passive solar greenhouses: insulated north wall and thermal mass to cut winter heat.
- Climate battery greenhouses: store daytime solar heat in the soil for cold nights.
Get a quote
Tell us which markets you plan to sell at, your crops, and your target setpoint. We will size the greenhouse, glazing and heat to match.