When to plant in Cedar Rapids, IA
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Cedar Rapids, Iowa — all computed from Cedar Rapids's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 5b means Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CEDAR RAPIDS 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 Cedar Rapids’s own odds, recorded at CEDAR RAPIDS MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 20 | May 6 | Apr 23 | Sep 16 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | May 11 | Apr 27 | Apr 13 | Sep 25 | Oct 11 | Oct 23 |
| 28°F | May 1 | Apr 16 | Apr 3 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 | Nov 1 |
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 Cedar Rapids, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 34 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.
Cedar Rapids planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cedar Rapids, IA?
On average, the last spring frost in Cedar Rapids is around April 27 (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 Cedar Rapids, IA?
Expect Cedar Rapids's first fall frost near October 11 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Cedar Rapids in?
Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids?
There are roughly 167 frost-free days in Cedar Rapids (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 27 to the first fall frost near October 11.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cedar Rapids?
In Cedar Rapids, start tomato seeds indoors around March 2–March 16, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 4 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Cedar Rapids
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cedar Rapids’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Marion · 12 km
- North Liberty · 25 km
- Coralville · 30 km
- Iowa City · 36 km
- Muscatine · 79 km
- Waterloo · 81 km
- Cedar Falls · 89 km
- Dubuque · 100 km
Frost dates recorded at CEDAR RAPIDS MUNI AP, 10 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 Cedar Rapids, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014990. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/cedar-rapids.