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

Planting zone for 50857 — Nodaway, IA

ZIP code 50857 (Nodaway, Adams County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 50857 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 27
First frostOct 12
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 Nodaway, 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 Nodaway, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season168 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Corning, IA — 7 miles away, elevation 1,191 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 50857

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 50857 came on Mar 15 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Nodaway, IA.

Soil in Nodaway, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 50857 is Zook — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Zook-Ely-Gullied land complex, 2 to 5 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 50857; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Nodaway, IA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights148nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,122base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall28 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 12 °F 31°12° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.84 in precipitation, 8.2 in snowfall 0.8❄8 JanFebruary: 1.20 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 1.2❄6 FebMarch: 2.08 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 2.1❄3 MarApril: 3.44 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.4❄1 AprMay: 5.15 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.80 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.8 OctNovember: 1.86 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 1.9❄2 NovDecember: 1.43 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 1.4❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Corning, IA (7 mi away); precipitation: Corning, IA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

508645b
Villisca, IA · 6 mi
508415b
Corning, IA · 8 mi
508395b
Carbon, IA · 8 mi
508485b
Gravity, IA · 12 mi
515735b
Stanton, IA · 12 mi
516465b
New Market, IA · 13 mi
508625b
Sharpsburg, IA · 15 mi
508475b
Grant, IA · 15 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 50857

What planting zone is ZIP code 50857?

ZIP code 50857 (Nodaway, 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 Nodaway, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 50857 is April 27; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Corning station.

When is the first frost in Nodaway, IA?

The median first fall frost near 50857 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 168 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 50857?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 50857 get?

About 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 28 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Corning station).

How hot do summers get in Nodaway, IA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 50857 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Zook at the center of ZIP 50857: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Nodaway, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 50857 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Nodaway, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 50857 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 50857 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 50857 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.