When to plant in Burlington, IA
USDA Zone 6aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Burlington, Iowa — all computed from Burlington's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 6a means Burlington sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
BURLINGTON MUNI 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 Burlington’s own odds, recorded at BURLINGTON MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 12 | Apr 28 | Apr 13 | Sep 25 | Oct 11 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 1 | Apr 15 | Apr 2 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 22 | Apr 5 | Mar 20 | Oct 18 | Oct 31 | Nov 13 |
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 Burlington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 12 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.
Burlington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Burlington, IA?
On average, the last spring frost in Burlington is around April 15 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Burlington, IA?
Expect Burlington's first fall frost near October 20 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Burlington in?
Burlington is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Burlington?
There are roughly 188 frost-free days in Burlington (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 15 to the first fall frost near October 20.
When should I plant tomatoes in Burlington?
In Burlington, start tomato seeds indoors around February 18–March 4, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 22 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Burlington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Burlington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Fort Madison · 28 km
- Macomb · 53 km
- Galesburg · 65 km
- Muscatine · 68 km
- Rock Island · 86 km
- Moline · 92 km
- Davenport · 94 km
- Canton · 96 km
Frost dates recorded at BURLINGTON MUNI 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 Burlington, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014931. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/burlington.