Cedar Rapids, Iowa planting calendar and frost dates
Cedar Rapids is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 28 and the first fall frost around October 12, giving about 166 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 28
- Typical first frost
- October 12
- Frost-free season
- 166 days
Frost dates in Cedar Rapids
Last spring frost
- April 14Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 12Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 25Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 166 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 17 and returns around October 22.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cedar Rapids #1, 4 miles NE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Cedar Rapids
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Cedar Rapids
All 5 of Cedar Rapids's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Cedar Rapids #1, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 5a in 52404, 52405, 52411, and 5b in 52402, 52403.
Planting dates for popular crops in Cedar Rapids
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 16 to 30 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Jul 13 to Aug 17 |
| Cilantro | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Basil | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 11 to 18 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Oct 12 to 26 |
| Onions | Jan 6 to Feb 17 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 23 to Mar 23 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 7 to 28 | Jul 20 to Aug 10 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 26 to Jun 2 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 6 to 20 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 13 to 27 | May 11 to 25 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 10 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 27 to Aug 24 |
| Peas | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Jul 20 to Aug 3 |
| Spinach | Mar 17 to 24 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 3 to Sep 7 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 28 to May 19 | — |
| Zinnias | May 14 to 21 | Jun 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 31 to Oct 26 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 31 to Oct 12 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 17 to 31 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
Nearby cities
- Iowa City, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 21
- Waterloo, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 27
- Davenport, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 19
- Dubuque, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 19
- Ames, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 26
- Ankeny, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 23
Planting in IowaAbout zone 5aPrintable calendar for Cedar Rapids
Questions
When is the last frost in Cedar Rapids?
Around April 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Cedar Rapids #1. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 13.
What planting zone is Cedar Rapids in?
USDA hardiness zone 5a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 5b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cedar Rapids?
Start seeds indoors March 16 to 30 and set plants out May 11 to 25; the safest date to plant out is after May 13.
When is the first frost in Cedar Rapids?
Around October 12 in a typical year, and before September 29 about 1 year in 10.