When to plant in Waukee, IA
USDA Zone 5bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Waukee, Iowa — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 20 km from Waukee, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. In zone 5b, Waukee gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
DES MOINES INTL 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 Waukee’s own odds, recorded at DES MOINES INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 10 | Apr 29 | Apr 15 | Sep 25 | Oct 9 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | May 2 | Apr 18 | Apr 4 | Oct 4 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 22 | Apr 8 | Mar 25 | Oct 16 | Oct 30 | Nov 11 |
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 Waukee, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 25 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.
Waukee planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Waukee, IA?
Waukee's average last spring frost falls near April 18 — 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 Waukee, IA?
In Waukee, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 20 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Waukee in?
Waukee 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 Waukee?
Waukee has about 185 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 18) and first fall frost (October 20).
When should I plant tomatoes in Waukee?
For Waukee, sow tomatoes indoors about February 21–March 7 and move the seedlings out around April 25, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Waukee
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Waukee’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Clive · 7 km
- West Des Moines · 10 km
- Urbandale · 10 km
- Grimes · 12 km
- Johnston · 17 km
- Norwalk · 20 km
- Des Moines · 23 km
- Ankeny · 28 km
Frost dates recorded at DES MOINES INTL AP, 20 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 Waukee, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014933. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/waukee.