Moorland, IA 50566 Frost Dates
When can you plant in Moorland, IA?
Typically, the last spring freeze lands around 04/28, roughly 243 days out. The first fall frost typically arrives around 10/08, about 162 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Moorland in Zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 6 weeks of growing season left in Moorland before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
Why 04/28 isn't a guarantee
04/28 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 04/13 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 05/09 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How Moorland compares
Moorland's growing season runs about 162 days, ranking 31,883 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within IA, it ranks 737 of 1,042.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 5a and Moorland's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around Moorland's dates instead of trusting one.