When to plant in Indianola, IA
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Indianola, Iowa — all computed from Indianola's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 5b means Indianola 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 Indianola is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
INDIANOLA 2W · 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 Indianola’s own odds, recorded at INDIANOLA 2W.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 4 | Apr 20 | Sep 19 | Oct 2 | Oct 15 |
| 32°F | May 8 | Apr 24 | Apr 11 | Sep 27 | Oct 12 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F | Apr 29 | Apr 14 | Apr 1 | Oct 6 | Oct 21 | Nov 4 |
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 Indianola, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 32 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.
Indianola planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Indianola, IA?
Indianola's average last spring frost falls near April 24 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Indianola, IA?
Expect Indianola's first fall frost near October 12 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Indianola in?
Indianola 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 Indianola?
There are roughly 171 frost-free days in Indianola (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 24 to the first fall frost near October 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Indianola?
In Indianola, start tomato seeds indoors around February 27–March 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Indianola
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Indianola’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Norwalk · 17 km
- Des Moines · 24 km
- Pleasant Hill · 27 km
- West Des Moines · 27 km
- Altoona · 33 km
- Clive · 34 km
- Urbandale · 35 km
- Waukee · 37 km
Frost dates recorded at INDIANOLA 2W, 7 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 Indianola, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00134063. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/indianola.