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

Planting zone for 52031 — Bellevue, IA

ZIP code 52031 (Bellevue, Jackson County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 52031 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 frostApr 25
First frostOct 16
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 Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Bellevue L&D 12, IA — 3 miles away, elevation 604 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 52031

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 52031 came on Mar 28 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 Bellevue, IA.

Soil in Bellevue, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 52031 is Donatus — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Donatus-Rollingstone silt loams, 14 to 18 percent slopes, moderately 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 52031; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bellevue, IA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,021base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 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
Snowfall32 inper year; 60 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 29 °F 47°29° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 19 °F 34°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.30 in precipitation, 9.3 in snowfall 1.3❄9 JanFebruary: 1.58 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 1.6❄8 FebMarch: 2.16 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 2.2❄4 MarApril: 3.77 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.8 AprMay: 4.21 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.2 MayJune: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 JunJuly: 4.33 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.18 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.2 OctNovember: 2.34 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 2.3❄1 NovDecember: 1.93 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 1.9❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bellevue L&D 12, IA (3 mi away); precipitation: Bellevue L&D 12, IA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

520755a
Springbrook, IA · 6 mi
520715a
Saint Donatus, IA · 8 mi
520545a
La Motte, IA · 8 mi
520305a
Andrew, IA · 9 mi
610415a
Hanover, IL · 9 mi
520745a
Spragueville, IA · 10 mi
520795a
Zwingle, IA · 12 mi
610365a
Galena, IL · 12 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 52031

What planting zone is ZIP code 52031?

ZIP code 52031 (Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 52031 is April 25; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bellevue L&D 12 station.

When is the first frost in Bellevue, IA?

The median first fall frost near 52031 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 52031?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 52031 get?

About 37.8 inches of precipitation a year and 32 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bellevue L&D 12 station).

How hot do summers get in Bellevue, 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 52031 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Donatus at the center of ZIP 52031: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Bellevue, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 52031 came on Mar 28 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bellevue, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 52031 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).