Frost dates for Maquoketa, IA
At Maquoketa, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 25 and the median first fall frost is Oct 14, for a typical growing season of 171 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b.
- Apr 25Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 14First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 171 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 20 | May 5 | May 18 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Apr 25 | May 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 2 | Apr 14 | May 1 |
| 24°F | Mar 18 | Apr 5 | Apr 20 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 20 | Oct 3 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | Sep 30 | Oct 14 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F | Oct 10 | Oct 24 | Nov 4 |
| 24°F | Oct 21 | Nov 2 | Nov 16 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 132 days | 151 days | 169 days |
| 32°F | 151 days | 171 days | 189 days |
| 28°F | 171 days | 191 days | 209 days |
| 24°F | 193 days | 211 days | 233 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52060 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 3 km |
| 52030 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 km |
| 52037 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 12 km |
| 52207 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 14 km |
| 52731 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 19 km |
| 52309 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 19 km |
| 52069 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 19 km |
| 52774 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 20 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00135131, at 42.0772, -90.6647, elevation 204 m (668 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 153.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Bellevue L&d 12 (29 km)
- Lowden (32 km)
- Dubuque Regional Airport (36 km)
- Cascade (38 km)
- Clinton #1 (46 km)
- Tipton (51 km)
- Dubuque L&d 11 (51 km)
- Anamosa 1 WNW (52 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.