The USDA Zone info is a great tool for gardeners to help us estimate your gardening schedule. The most important data that the zone info tells us is average last frost and the lowest expected temperature for your area.

It's possible to determine when it's the best time to plant veronica by checking out the USDA zone info for Ames.

Planting Calendar for Veronica

Frost tolerance for veronica:	Tolerant of some frost.
When to plant:	Up to 5 weeks before last frost.

Since veronica are moderately cold tolerant you can plant them a bit earlier in the year than other frost tender plants.

The earliest that you can plant veronica in Ames is February. However, you really should wait until March if you don't want to take any chances.

The last month that you can plant veronica and expect a good harvest is probably September. Any later than that and your veronica may not have a chance to grow to maturity. Starting your veronica indoors is a great way to get them started a couple of weeks earlier.

Last Frost Date

In Ames the average date of last frost happens on April 15. You should expect an average low temperature of -20°F in the coldest months of winter.

Since the USDA zone info for Ames may not be accurate from year to year the actual date of last frost is different every year. Half of the time in Ames there is a last frost after April 15 so just be sure to be ready to cover your veronica in the event of a surprise late frost.

USDA Zone Info for Ames

Here is the info for USDA Zone 5a.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)	April 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)	October 15
Lowest Expected Low	-20°F
Highest Expected Low	-15°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is -20°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near -15°F.

Plants to Grow in Ames

You may be interested in your other planting guides for Ames.