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

Planting zone for 52774 — Welton, IA

ZIP code 52774 (Welton, Clinton County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 52774 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 25
First frostOct 14
2012 zone5a

Was 5a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Welton, 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 Welton, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Maquoketa, IA — 12 miles away, elevation 669 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 52774

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 52774 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 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 Welton, IA.

Soil in Welton, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 52774 is Atterberry — silt loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Atterberry silt loam, benches, 1 to 3 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 52774; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Welton, IA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days10days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights153nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,902base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation39 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 11 °F 27°11° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 15 °F 31°15° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 60 °F 79°60° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 63 °F 82°63° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 61 °F 81°61° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 40 °F 62°40° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 28 °F 46°28° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 18 °F 33°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 JanFebruary: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 FebMarch: 2.50 in precipitation 2.5 MarApril: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 4.80 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.93 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 OctNovember: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 NovDecember: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Maquoketa, IA (12 mi away); precipitation: De Witt 1.4 Wnw, IA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

520375a
Delmar, IA · 5 mi
527425b
De Witt, IA · 6 mi
527315a
Charlotte, IA · 7 mi
527515a
Grand Mound, IA · 7 mi
527295b
Calamus, IA · 10 mi
527505a
Goose Lake, IA · 10 mi
522545a
Lost Nation, IA · 11 mi
527565b
Long Grove, IA · 13 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 52774

What planting zone is ZIP code 52774?

ZIP code 52774 (Welton, 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 Welton, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 52774 is April 25; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Maquoketa station.

When is the first frost in Welton, IA?

The median first fall frost near 52774 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 52774?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 52774 get?

About 39 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, De Witt 1.4 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Welton, IA?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 10 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 52774 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Atterberry at the center of ZIP 52774: silt loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Welton, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 52774 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 Welton, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 52774 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 52774 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 52774 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.