When to plant in North Liberty, IA
USDA Zone 5bNorth Liberty, Iowa frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 5b means North Liberty 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 North Liberty is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
IOWA CITY 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 North Liberty’s own odds, recorded at IOWA CITY MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 15 | May 1 | Apr 17 | Sep 26 | Oct 9 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F | May 6 | Apr 21 | Apr 5 | Oct 4 | Oct 18 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F | Apr 27 | Apr 9 | Mar 25 | Oct 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 |
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 North Liberty, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 18 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.
North Liberty planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in North Liberty, IA?
On average, the last spring frost in North Liberty is around April 21 (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 North Liberty, IA?
In North Liberty, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 18 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is North Liberty in?
North Liberty 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 North Liberty?
There are roughly 180 frost-free days in North Liberty (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 21 to the first fall frost near October 18.
When should I plant tomatoes in North Liberty?
In North Liberty, start tomato seeds indoors around February 24–March 10, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 28 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in North Liberty
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to North Liberty’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Coralville · 5 km
- Iowa City · 12 km
- Cedar Rapids · 25 km
- Marion · 34 km
- Muscatine · 58 km
- Davenport · 86 km
- Rock Island · 91 km
- Bettendorf · 96 km
Frost dates recorded at IOWA CITY MUNI AP, 14 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 North Liberty, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014937. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/north-liberty.