Before planting it is a good idea to find your USDA Zone info to figure out your garden schedule. The most important data that the zone info tells us is average last frost and the lowest expected temperature for your area.

By looking at the USDA zone info for Ottumwa you will be able to estimate when it's possible to plant armeria.

Planting Calendar for Armeria

Frost tolerance for armeria:	Very tolerant of frost.
When to plant:	Up to 7 weeks before last frost.

Since armeria are one of those plants that can tolerate quite a bit of cold weather you can plant them much earlier in the year than other plants that might not handle the cold.

The earliest that you can plant armeria in Ottumwa 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 armeria and expect a good harvest is probably September. If you wait any later than that and your armeria may not have a chance to fully mature. Starting your armeria indoors is a great way to get them started a little bit earlier.

Last Frost Date

In Ottumwa the average date of last frost happens on April 15. In the coldest months of winter you should expect an average low temperature of -15°F.

Keep in mind that the actual date of last frost may not be accurate from year to year because it is based on the USDA zone info for Ottumwa and it will vary from year to year. Half of the time in Ottumwa it frosts late in the year after April 15 so always be ready to cover your armeria if you have a surprise late frost.

USDA Zone Info for Ottumwa

Here is the info for USDA Zone 5b.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)	April 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)	October 15
Lowest Expected Low	-15°F
Highest Expected Low	-10°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is -15°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near -10°F.

Plants to Grow in Ottumwa

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