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

Planting zone for 52721 — Bennett, IA

ZIP code 52721 (Bennett, Cedar County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 52721 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 27
First frostOct 10
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 Bennett, 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 Bennett, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season165 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Lowden, IA — 7 miles away, elevation 738 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 52721

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
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 27) 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 52721 came on Mar 25 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 Bennett, IA.

Soil in Bennett, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 52721 is Tama — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tama silty clay loam, 2 to 5 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 52721; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bennett, IA

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,115base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation39.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall40 inper year; 55 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 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° 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 51 °F 77°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.58 in precipitation, 11.2 in snowfall 1.6❄11 JanFebruary: 1.80 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 1.8❄8 FebMarch: 2.80 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 2.8❄6 MarApril: 4.10 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 4.1❄2 AprMay: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 5.08 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.14 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.16 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 3.2❄1 OctNovember: 2.31 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 2.3❄3 NovDecember: 2.04 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 2.0❄9 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

527655b
New Liberty, IA · 5 mi
522555a
Lowden, IA · 7 mi
527775a
Wheatland, IA · 8 mi
522165a
Clarence, IA · 9 mi
527725a
Tipton, IA · 10 mi
527455b
Dixon, IA · 10 mi
527785b
Wilton, IA · 11 mi
527475b
Durant, IA · 11 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 52721

What planting zone is ZIP code 52721?

ZIP code 52721 (Bennett, 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 Bennett, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 52721 is April 27; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lowden station.

When is the first frost in Bennett, IA?

The median first fall frost near 52721 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 165 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 52721?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 52721 get?

About 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 40 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lowden station).

How hot do summers get in Bennett, IA?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 52721 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tama at the center of ZIP 52721: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Bennett, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 52721 came on Mar 25 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bennett, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 52721 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).