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

Planting zone for 52146 — Harpers Ferry, IA

ZIP code 52146 (Harpers Ferry, Allamakee County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 17.

Where ZIP 52146 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 24
First frostOct 17
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 Harpers Ferry, 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 Harpers Ferry, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Lynxville Dam 9, WI — 6 miles away, elevation 633 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 52146

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 52146 came on Mar 28 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 Harpers Ferry, IA.

Soil in Harpers Ferry, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 52146 is Lacrescent — cobbly silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureCobbly silty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lacrescent silt loam, 25 to 70 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 52146; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Harpers Ferry, IA

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights134nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,857base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation36.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year; 83 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 10 °F 27°10° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 59 °F 79°59° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 63 °F 83°63° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 53 °F 73°53° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 29 °F 44°29° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 17 °F 32°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.29 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 1.3❄10 JanFebruary: 1.18 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 1.2❄10 FebMarch: 2.03 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 2.0❄5 MarApril: 3.75 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.8❄1 AprMay: 4.68 in precipitation 4.7 MayJune: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.79 in precipitation 3.8 SepOctober: 2.53 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.5 OctNovember: 2.02 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 2.0❄2 NovDecember: 1.45 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 1.4❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lynxville Dam 9, WI (6 mi away); precipitation: Lynxville Dam 9, WI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

521705a
Waterville, IA · 6 mi
546265a
Eastman, WI · 8 mi
521585a
Marquette, IA · 9 mi
521595a
Monona, IA · 10 mi
521575a
Mc Gregor, IA · 11 mi
538215a
Prairie Du Chien, WI · 12 mi
521515a
Lansing, IA · 12 mi
546545a
Seneca, WI · 14 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 52146

What planting zone is ZIP code 52146?

ZIP code 52146 (Harpers Ferry, 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 Harpers Ferry, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 52146 is April 24; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lynxville Dam 9 station.

When is the first frost in Harpers Ferry, IA?

The median first fall frost near 52146 is October 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 52146?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 52146 get?

About 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lynxville Dam 9 station).

How hot do summers get in Harpers Ferry, IA?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 52146 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lacrescent at the center of ZIP 52146: cobbly silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Harpers Ferry, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 52146 came on Mar 28 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Harpers Ferry, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 52146 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).