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

Planting zone for 50115 — Guthrie Center, IA

ZIP code 50115 (Guthrie Center, Guthrie County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 50115 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 2
First frostOct 3
2012 zone5a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Guthrie Center, 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 Guthrie Center, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Guthrie Center, IA — 4 miles away, elevation 1,066 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 50115

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 50115 came on Mar 24 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 5a in Iowa

461 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Iowa, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 46

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 185

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 133

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 Guthrie Center, IA.

Soil in Guthrie Center, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 50115 is Shelby — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.9%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Shelby-Adair clay loams, dissected till plain, 14 to 18 percent slopes, eroded.

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 50115; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Guthrie Center, IA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,044base 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)
Precipitation37.1 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 10 °F 30°10° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 36 °F 61°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 16 °F 35°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 1.18 in precipitation 1.2 FebMarch: 1.88 in precipitation 1.9 MarApril: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 MayJune: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 1.88 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Guthrie Center, IA (4 mi away); precipitation: Guthrie Center, IA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

500295a
Bayard, IA · 10 mi
502165a
Panora, IA · 11 mi
501175a
Hamlin, IA · 12 mi
500485b
Casey, IA · 12 mi
500025b
Adair, IA · 12 mi
502775a
Yale, IA · 13 mi
500265a
Bagley, IA · 13 mi
500585a
Coon Rapids, IA · 14 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 50115

What planting zone is ZIP code 50115?

ZIP code 50115 (Guthrie Center, IA) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Guthrie Center, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 50115 is May 2; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Guthrie Center station.

When is the first frost in Guthrie Center, IA?

The median first fall frost near 50115 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 50115?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 50115 get?

About 37.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Guthrie Center station).

How hot do summers get in Guthrie Center, IA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 50115 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Shelby at the center of ZIP 50115: clay loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Guthrie Center, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 50115 came on Mar 24 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Guthrie Center, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 50115 is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).