Davenport, Iowa planting calendar and frost dates
Davenport is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 22, giving about 184 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- April 19
- Typical first frost
- October 22
- Frost-free season
- 184 days
Frost dates in Davenport
Last spring frost
- April 6Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 7Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 22Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 2Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 184 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 8 and returns around October 31.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rock Island L&D 15, 0.8 miles ESE 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 Davenport
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, 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, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, 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, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: bearded irises, 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, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Davenport
All 5 of Davenport's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Rock Island L&D 15, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52802 | 5b | Rock Island L&D 15, 0.8 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| 52803 | 5b | Rock Island L&D 15, 0.8 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| 52804 | 5b | Rock Island L&D 15, 0.8 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| 52806 | 5b | Rock Island L&D 15, 0.8 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| 52807 | 5b | Rock Island L&D 15, 0.8 mi ESE | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Davenport
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 12 to 26 | Jul 23 to Aug 27 |
| Cilantro | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 22 to Nov 5 |
| Onions | Dec 28 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 24 to Mar 24 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Jul 30 to Aug 20 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 26 to Jun 2 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 6 to Sep 3 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Jul 30 to Aug 13 |
| Spinach | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 19 to May 10 | — |
| Zinnias | May 14 to 21 | Jun 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 10 to Nov 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 10 to Oct 22 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Iowa City, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 21
- Cedar Rapids, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 28
- Dubuque, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 19
- Peoria, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 16
- Rockford, IL zone 5b, last frost Apr 24
- Normal, IL zone 6a, last frost Apr 25
Planting in IowaAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Davenport
Questions
When is the last frost in Davenport?
Around April 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Rock Island L&D 15. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 4.
What planting zone is Davenport in?
USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Davenport?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Davenport?
Around October 22 in a typical year, and before October 7 about 1 year in 10.