When to plant in Council Bluffs, IA
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Council Bluffs, Iowa — all computed from Council Bluffs's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 5b means Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs is now 10 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
OMAHA EPPLEY AIRFIELD · 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 Council Bluffs’s own odds, recorded at OMAHA EPPLEY AIRFIELD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 11 | Apr 28 | Apr 14 | Sep 27 | Oct 10 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | Apr 30 | Apr 18 | Apr 5 | Oct 6 | Oct 21 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 21 | Apr 8 | Mar 24 | Oct 17 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 |
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 Council Bluffs, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 23 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.
Council Bluffs planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Council Bluffs, IA?
On average, the last spring frost in Council Bluffs is around April 18 (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 Council Bluffs, IA?
The first fall frost in Council Bluffs typically arrives around October 21 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Council Bluffs in?
Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs?
There are roughly 186 frost-free days in Council Bluffs (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 18 to the first fall frost near October 21.
When should I plant tomatoes in Council Bluffs?
In Council Bluffs, start tomato seeds indoors around February 21–March 7, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 25 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Council Bluffs
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Council Bluffs’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at OMAHA EPPLEY AIRFIELD, 9 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 Council Bluffs, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014942. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/council-bluffs.