When to plant in Muscatine, IA
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Muscatine, Iowa — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 5b, Muscatine gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
MUSCATINE · 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 Muscatine’s own odds, recorded at MUSCATINE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 18 | May 4 | Apr 20 | Sep 22 | Oct 4 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | May 9 | Apr 24 | Apr 9 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | Apr 29 | Apr 13 | Mar 30 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 | 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 Muscatine, 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.
Muscatine planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Muscatine, IA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Muscatine around April 24 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Muscatine, IA?
The first fall frost in Muscatine typically arrives around October 14 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Muscatine in?
Muscatine 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 Muscatine?
Muscatine has about 173 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 24) and first fall frost (October 14).
When should I plant tomatoes in Muscatine?
For Muscatine, sow tomatoes indoors about February 27–March 13 and move the seedlings out around May 1, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Muscatine
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Muscatine’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Rock Island · 41 km
- Davenport · 42 km
- Iowa City · 47 km
- Moline · 48 km
- Bettendorf · 52 km
- Coralville · 54 km
- East Moline · 58 km
- North Liberty · 58 km
Frost dates recorded at MUSCATINE, 1 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 Muscatine, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00135837. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/muscatine.