When to plant in Davenport, IA
USDA Zone 5bDavenport, Iowa frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 5b, Davenport gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average last spring frost in Davenport is now 8 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
ROCK ISLAND L&D 15 · 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 Davenport’s own odds, recorded at ROCK ISLAND L&D 15.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 14 | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Sep 29 | Oct 12 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | May 4 | Apr 19 | Apr 6 | Oct 7 | Oct 22 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 8 | Mar 25 | Oct 18 | Oct 31 | Nov 14 |
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 Davenport, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 6 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.
Davenport planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Davenport, IA?
On average, the last spring frost in Davenport is around April 19 (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 Davenport, IA?
The first fall frost in Davenport typically arrives around October 22 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Davenport in?
Davenport 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 Davenport?
Davenport has about 186 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 19) and first fall frost (October 22).
When should I plant tomatoes in Davenport?
For Davenport, sow tomatoes indoors about February 22–March 8 and move the seedlings out around April 26, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Davenport
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Davenport’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Rock Island · 10 km
- Bettendorf · 11 km
- Moline · 12 km
- East Moline · 18 km
- Muscatine · 42 km
- Clinton · 44 km
- Kewanee · 67 km
- Galesburg · 70 km
Frost dates recorded at ROCK ISLAND L&D 15, 5 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 Davenport, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00117391. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/davenport.