South English, IA 52335 Frost Dates
When can you plant in South English, IA?
The last spring frost here typically falls around 04/28, about 243 days from today. The first fall frost typically arrives around 10/09, about 164 frost-free days later.
South English sits in USDA Zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average annual minimum). The dates above are NOAA's 1991-2020 normal at the nearest reporting station, a 30-year average, not a forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 6 weeks of growing season left in South English 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 04/14 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 05/12 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How South English compares
South English's growing season runs about 164 days, ranking 31,214 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within IA, it ranks 638 of 1,042.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 5b and South English's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around South English's dates instead of trusting one.