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

Planting zone for 50169 — Mitchellville, IA

ZIP code 50169 (Mitchellville, Polk County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 50169 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostApr 21
First frostOct 15
2012 zone5a

Was 5a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mitchellville, 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 Mitchellville, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Des Moines 17 E, IA — 7 miles away, elevation 922 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 50169

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
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 21) 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 50169 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 Mitchellville, IA.

Soil in Mitchellville, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 50169 is Clarion — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Clarion loam, Bemis moraine, 2 to 6 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 50169; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mitchellville, IA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights137nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,131base 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)
Precipitation37.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 17 °F 35°17° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 51 °F 71°51° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 19 °F 35°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 1.14 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 MarApril: 3.93 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 5.01 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 JunJuly: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Des Moines 17 E, IA (7 mi away); precipitation: Altoona 1.5 Sse, IA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

500095b
Altoona, IA · 6 mi
500545b
Colfax, IA · 7 mi
500355b
Bondurant, IA · 7 mi
502375b
Runnells, IA · 8 mi
502285b
Prairie City, IA · 8 mi
503275b
Pleasant Hill, IA · 8 mi
500325b
Berwick, IA · 10 mi
501685b
Mingo, IA · 10 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 50169

What planting zone is ZIP code 50169?

ZIP code 50169 (Mitchellville, IA) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Mitchellville, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 50169 is April 21; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Des Moines 17 E station.

When is the first frost in Mitchellville, IA?

The median first fall frost near 50169 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 174 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 50169?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 50169 get?

About 37.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Altoona 1.5 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Mitchellville, IA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 50169 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Clarion at the center of ZIP 50169: loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mitchellville, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 50169 came on Mar 20 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mitchellville, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 50169 is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 50169 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 50169 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.