Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 52650 (Sperry, IA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Gladstone Dam 18, IL (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)202 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 52650 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 29: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 23 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 17 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 20 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 8 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 31 | Nov 7 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 52650
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Oct 29). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 11–25 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 11–25 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 11–25 | Mar 18–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Mar 25–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 4–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 11–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 11–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 11–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 14–28 | Apr 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Gladstone Dam 18, IL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00113455), elevation 538 ft, 8.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Muni AP, IA | 12 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 20 |
| Burlington 2S, IA | 12 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| New Boston Dam 17, IL | 17 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 52650
When is the last frost in 52650?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 52650 is April 8. For a more cautious planting date, use April 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 52650?
The average first fall freeze is October 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 17.
What hardiness zone is 52650?
ZIP 52650 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 52650 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
52637 Kingston 52601 Burlington 52655 West Burlington 52660 Yarmouth 52646 Oakville 61437 Gladstone 52638 Middletown 52623 Danville
Other ZIP codes in Des Moines County
52601 52623 52637 52638 52646 52655 52660 All Des Moines County frost dates · Iowa frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.