Frost dates for Cedar Rapids, Iowa
In a typical year, Cedar Rapids’s last spring frost lands around Apr 28 and the first fall frost around Oct 12, a growing season of about 167 days. These are odds drawn from 30-year NOAA climate normals, not a promise. USDA zone 5b.
| Odds | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | Apr 14 | Sep 29 |
| 50 percent | Apr 28 | Oct 12 |
| 90 percent | May 13 | Oct 25 |
A 10 percent year is an early year, a 90 percent year a late one. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the 90 percent side of the last-frost band.
Soil in Cedar Rapids is typically around 72°F at 4 inches this time of year, estimated from the last two weeks of normal air temperatures.
Plantable now in Cedar Rapids
- Chinese cabbage (Bilko)
- Radish (Cherry Belle)
- Mustard greens (Red Giant)
- Arugula (Astro)
- Tatsoi (Tatsoi)
- Dill (Bouquet)
- Cilantro (Santo)
- Sweet alyssum (Snow Crystals)
Timing comes from the same temperature engine the app uses, run against Cedar Rapids’s normals for today.
Nearby cities
- Davenport, IA (around Apr 23 to Oct 15)
- Des Moines, IA (around Apr 23 to Oct 15)
- Rockford, IL (around Apr 24 to Oct 17)
- Madison, WI (around May 1 to Oct 9)
- Rochester, MN (around Apr 30 to Oct 6)
Row & Bed is a plant reference built around your garden: your zone, your frost dates, your forecast, and a cited page for every variety in your beds.
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