When to plant in Waverly, IA
USDA Zone 5aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Waverly, Iowa — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 19 km from Waverly, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. In zone 5a, Waverly gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Waverly is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
WATERLOO 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 Waverly’s own odds, recorded at WATERLOO MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | May 6 | Apr 23 | Sep 16 | Sep 30 | Oct 11 |
| 32°F | May 10 | Apr 27 | Apr 11 | Sep 26 | Oct 10 | Oct 21 |
| 28°F | May 2 | Apr 16 | Apr 3 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 | Oct 31 |
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 Waverly, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 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.
Waverly planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Waverly, IA?
Waverly's average last spring frost falls near April 27 — 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 Waverly, IA?
The first fall frost in Waverly typically arrives around October 10 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Waverly in?
Waverly is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. In zone 5a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Waverly?
Waverly has about 166 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 27) and first fall frost (October 10).
When should I plant tomatoes in Waverly?
For Waverly, sow tomatoes indoors about March 2–March 16 and move the seedlings out around May 4, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Waverly
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Waverly’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Cedar Falls · 23 km
- Waterloo · 27 km
- Mason City · 76 km
- Marshalltown · 84 km
- Marion · 105 km
- Cedar Rapids · 106 km
- Austin · 113 km
- Ames · 122 km
Frost dates recorded at WATERLOO MUNI AP, 19 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 Waverly, IA — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094910. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/iowa/waverly.