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

Planting zone for 52647 — Olds, IA

ZIP code 52647 (Olds, Henry County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 52647 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 30
First frostOct 10
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 Olds, 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 Olds, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Mt Pleasant 1 Ssw, IA — 13 miles away, elevation 732 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 52647

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 52647 came on Mar 19 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 Olds, IA.

Soil in Olds, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 52647 is Taintor — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

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

Map unit: Taintor silty clay 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 52647; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Olds, IA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights130nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,118base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation38.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall25 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 13 °F 31°13° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 18 °F 37°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.42 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 1.4❄7 JanFebruary: 1.68 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 1.7❄7 FebMarch: 2.31 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 2.3❄3 MarApril: 3.91 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 3.9❄1 AprMay: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.11 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 4.13 in precipitation 4.1 SepOctober: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 2.05 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 2.0❄1 NovDecember: 1.68 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 1.7❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Pleasant 1 Ssw, IA (13 mi away); precipitation: Mt Pleasant 1 Ssw, IA (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

526525b
Swedesburg, IA · 3 mi
526215b
Crawfordsville, IA · 5 mi
526595b
Winfield, IA · 6 mi
526545b
Wayland, IA · 7 mi
526445b
Mount Union, IA · 9 mi
526415b
Mount Pleasant, IA · 10 mi
527375b
Columbus City, IA · 12 mi
527385b
Columbus Junction, IA · 13 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 52647

What planting zone is ZIP code 52647?

ZIP code 52647 (Olds, 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 Olds, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 52647 is April 30; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Pleasant 1 Ssw station.

When is the first frost in Olds, IA?

The median first fall frost near 52647 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 163 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 52647?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 52647 get?

About 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 25 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Pleasant 1 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Olds, 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 52647 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Taintor at the center of ZIP 52647: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Olds, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 52647 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Olds, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 52647 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).