When to plant in Urbandale, IA
USDA Zone 5bUrbandale, 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, Urbandale gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
DES MOINES WSFO-JOHNSTON · 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 Urbandale’s own odds, recorded at DES MOINES WSFO-JOHNSTON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 13 | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Sep 23 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F | May 3 | Apr 19 | Apr 5 | Oct 1 | Oct 18 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Mar 25 | Oct 14 | Oct 27 | 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 Urbandale, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Urbandale planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Urbandale, IA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Urbandale around April 19 (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 Urbandale, IA?
Expect Urbandale's first fall frost near October 18 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Urbandale in?
Urbandale 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 Urbandale?
Urbandale has about 182 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 19) and first fall frost (October 18).
When should I plant tomatoes in Urbandale?
For Urbandale, 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 Urbandale
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Urbandale’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Clive · 3 km
- Grimes · 5 km
- Johnston · 8 km
- West Des Moines · 10 km
- Waukee · 10 km
- Des Moines · 16 km
- Ankeny · 18 km
- Norwalk · 18 km
Frost dates recorded at DES MOINES WSFO-JOHNSTON, 12 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 Urbandale, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00132209. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/urbandale.