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

Planting zone for 52535 — Birmingham, IA

ZIP code 52535 (Birmingham, Van Buren County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 52535 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 26
First frostOct 13
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 Birmingham, 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 Birmingham, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Keosauqua, IA — 9 miles away, elevation 630 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 52535

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 52535 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 Birmingham, IA.

Soil in Birmingham, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 52535 is Beckwith — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Beckwith silt loam, 0 to 2 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 52535; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Birmingham, IA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights128nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,356base 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)
Precipitation39.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall23 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 14 °F 32°14° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 29 °F 49°29° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.50 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 1.5❄7 JanFebruary: 2.11 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 2.1❄5 FebMarch: 2.45 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 2.5❄3 MarApril: 3.64 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.6❄1 AprMay: 5.67 in precipitation 5.7 MayJune: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 JunJuly: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 2.97 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.0 OctNovember: 2.35 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.4❄1 NovDecember: 1.96 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 2.0❄6 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

525675b
Libertyville, IA · 8 mi
526516a
Stockport, IA · 8 mi
525515b
Douds, IA · 8 mi
525655b
Keosauqua, IA · 8 mi
525885b
Selma, IA · 10 mi
525575b
Fairfield, IA · 11 mi
525565b
Fairfield, IA · 11 mi
526355b
Lockridge, IA · 14 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 52535

What planting zone is ZIP code 52535?

ZIP code 52535 (Birmingham, 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 Birmingham, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 52535 is April 26; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Keosauqua station.

When is the first frost in Birmingham, IA?

The median first fall frost near 52535 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 169 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 52535?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 52535 get?

About 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 23 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Keosauqua station).

How hot do summers get in Birmingham, IA?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 52535 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Beckwith at the center of ZIP 52535: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Birmingham, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 52535 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 Birmingham, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 52535 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).