When to plant in Moline, IL
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Moline, Illinois — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 5b, Moline gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
MOLINE QUAD CITY INTL AP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Moline’s own odds, recorded at MOLINE QUAD CITY INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 4 | Apr 20 | Sep 24 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 9 | Apr 24 | Apr 9 | Oct 4 | Oct 18 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 12 | Mar 30 | Oct 15 | Oct 27 | Nov 7 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Moline, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Moline planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Moline, IL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Moline around April 24 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Moline, IL?
Expect Moline's first fall frost near October 18 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Moline in?
Moline is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Moline?
Moline has about 177 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 24) and first fall frost (October 18).
When should I plant tomatoes in Moline?
For Moline, sow tomatoes indoors about February 27–March 13 and move the seedlings out around May 1, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Moline
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Moline’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Rock Island · 8 km
- Bettendorf · 9 km
- East Moline · 10 km
- Davenport · 12 km
- Clinton · 45 km
- Muscatine · 48 km
- Kewanee · 55 km
- Galesburg · 60 km
Frost dates recorded at MOLINE QUAD CITY INTL AP, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Moline, IL — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014923. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/illinois/moline.