When to plant in Boone, IA
USDA Zone 5aBoone, Iowa frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 5a means Boone sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Boone is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BOONE · 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 Boone’s own odds, recorded at BOONE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 22 | May 7 | Apr 25 | Sep 20 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 11 | Apr 28 | Apr 13 | Sep 28 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Apr 3 | Oct 8 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
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 Boone, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 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.
Boone planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Boone, IA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Boone around April 28 (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 Boone, IA?
The first fall frost in Boone typically arrives around October 12 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Boone in?
Boone is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. In zone 5a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Boone?
There are roughly 167 frost-free days in Boone (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 28 to the first fall frost near October 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Boone?
In Boone, start tomato seeds indoors around March 3–March 17, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 5 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Boone
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Boone’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at BOONE, 2 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 Boone, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00130807. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/boone.