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

Planting zone for 52359 — West Chester, IA

ZIP code 52359 (West Chester, Washington County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 52359 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 28
First frostOct 11
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for West Chester, 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 West Chester, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season165 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Washington, IA — 7 miles away, elevation 686 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 52359

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 52359 came on Mar 19 — 16 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).

Soil in West Chester, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 52359 is Lawson — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lawson silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded.

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 52359; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Chester, IA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights140nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,155base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall25 inper year; 41 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 30 °F, low 12 °F 30°12° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 15 °F 35°15° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.25 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 1.3❄8 JanFebruary: 1.56 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 1.6❄8 FebMarch: 2.32 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 2.3❄2 MarApril: 3.65 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.17 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 JulAugust: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 3.03 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.0 OctNovember: 2.23 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 2.2❄1 NovDecember: 1.71 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 1.7❄5 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

523535b
Washington, IA · 6 mi
522485b
Keota, IA · 7 mi
523565b
Wellman, IA · 9 mi
522475b
Kalona, IA · 12 mi
522315b
Harper, IA · 13 mi
525405b
Brighton, IA · 14 mi
522015b
Ainsworth, IA · 14 mi
523275b
Riverside, IA · 15 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 52359

What planting zone is ZIP code 52359?

ZIP code 52359 (West Chester, 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 West Chester, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 52359 is April 28; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Washington station.

When is the first frost in West Chester, IA?

The median first fall frost near 52359 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 165 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 52359?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 3 – Mar 17 and set transplants outside around May 5 – May 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 52359 get?

About 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 25 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Washington station).

How hot do summers get in West Chester, IA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 52359 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lawson at the center of ZIP 52359: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in West Chester, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 52359 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in West Chester, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 52359 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).