Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Des Moines, IA

Des Moines, IA is in USDA zone 5b across its 57 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 15.

Des Moines on the zone map

Outlined: its 12 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes57
Last frostApr 23
First frostOct 15
Growing season173 days

5b 57 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Des Moines, IA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Des Moines, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season173 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Ankeny, IA, elevation 974 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Des Moines

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 15) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 50301 came on Mar 20 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5b in Iowa

473 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Iowa, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 49

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbalsam fir60 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Shrubs 77

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 191

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 136

arctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblue grama1 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Des Moines, IA.

Soil in Des Moines, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 50301 is Nicollet — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nicollet loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 50301; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Des Moines, IA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days23days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,262base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 12 °F 30°12° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 16 °F 34°16° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 18 °F 35°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.00 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 1.37 in precipitation 1.4 FebMarch: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 5.43 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.76 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ankeny, IA (6 mi away); precipitation: Des Moines 4.1 N, IA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Des Moines

503015b
−15 to −10 °F
503025b
−15 to −10 °F
503035b
−15 to −10 °F
503045b
−15 to −10 °F
503055b
−15 to −10 °F
503065b
−15 to −10 °F
503075b
−15 to −10 °F
503085b
−15 to −10 °F
503095b
−15 to −10 °F
503105b
−15 to −10 °F
503115b
−15 to −10 °F
503125b
−15 to −10 °F
503135b
−15 to −10 °F
503145b
−15 to −10 °F
503155b
−15 to −10 °F
503165b
−15 to −10 °F
503175b
−15 to −10 °F
503185b
−15 to −10 °F
503195b
−15 to −10 °F
503205b
−15 to −10 °F
503215b
−15 to −10 °F
503285b
−15 to −10 °F
503295b
−15 to −10 °F
503305b
−15 to −10 °F
503315b
−15 to −10 °F
503325b
−15 to −10 °F
503335b
−15 to −10 °F
503345b
−15 to −10 °F
503355b
−15 to −10 °F
503365b
−15 to −10 °F
503395b
−15 to −10 °F
503405b
−15 to −10 °F
503595b
−15 to −10 °F
503605b
−15 to −10 °F
503615b
−15 to −10 °F
503625b
−15 to −10 °F
503635b
−15 to −10 °F
503645b
−15 to −10 °F
503675b
−15 to −10 °F
503685b
−15 to −10 °F
503695b
−15 to −10 °F
503805b
−15 to −10 °F
503815b
−15 to −10 °F
503915b
−15 to −10 °F
503925b
−15 to −10 °F
503935b
−15 to −10 °F
503945b
−15 to −10 °F
503955b
−15 to −10 °F
503965b
−15 to −10 °F
509365b
−15 to −10 °F
509405b
−15 to −10 °F
509475b
−15 to −10 °F
509505b
−15 to −10 °F
509805b
−15 to −10 °F
509815b
−15 to −10 °F
509825b
−15 to −10 °F
509835b
−15 to −10 °F

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about Des Moines

What planting zone is Des Moines, IA?

Des Moines, IA is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Des Moines, IA?

The median last spring frost is April 23 and the median first fall frost is October 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ankeny station).

When can I plant a garden in Des Moines, IA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 12 – Apr 2; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 30, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Des Moines, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Des Moines, IA get?

About 37.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).