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

Planting zone for 52776 — West Liberty, IA

ZIP code 52776 (West Liberty, Muscatine County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 52776 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 29
First frostOct 9
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 Liberty, 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 Liberty, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 18 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Iowa City, IA — 12 miles away, elevation 640 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 52776

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 52776 came on Mar 25 — 10 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).

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 West Liberty, IA.

Soil in West Liberty, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 52776 is Tama — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Tama silt loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes, eroded.

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 52776; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Liberty, IA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights130nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,049base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 09 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
Snowfall28 inper year; 48 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 16 °F 34°16° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 27 °F 48°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 28 °F 48°28° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 1.14 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 1.1❄8 JanFebruary: 1.40 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 1.4❄8 FebMarch: 2.33 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 2.3❄3 MarApril: 3.86 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.9❄1 AprMay: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 5.49 in precipitation 5.5 JunJuly: 4.56 in precipitation 4.6 JulAugust: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.00 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.0 OctNovember: 2.27 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.3❄1 NovDecember: 1.60 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 1.6❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Iowa City, IA (12 mi away); precipitation: Iowa City, IA (12 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.

527205b
Atalissa, IA · 5 mi
527665b
Nichols, IA · 8 mi
523585b
West Branch, IA · 8 mi
527605b
Moscow, IA · 11 mi
527555b
Lone Tree, IA · 11 mi
522405b
Iowa City, IA · 12 mi
527725a
Tipton, IA · 13 mi
522355b
Hills, IA · 13 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 52776

What planting zone is ZIP code 52776?

ZIP code 52776 (West Liberty, 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 Liberty, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 52776 is April 29; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Iowa City station.

When is the first frost in West Liberty, IA?

The median first fall frost near 52776 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 52776?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 52776 get?

About 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 28 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Iowa City station).

How hot do summers get in West Liberty, IA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 52776 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tama at the center of ZIP 52776: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

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

Spring leaf-out near 52776 came on Mar 25 in 2026, 10 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 Liberty, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 52776 is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).