§ When to plant · Iowa · Checked Sept 2026
In Des Moines, tender crops like tomatoes and peppers can go out around April 29, and frost has historically passed 9 years in 10 by May 10. Cool-season crops go in from January, and again from July for fall.
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§ 010 · Frost dates
Based on NOAA's 1991–2020 station records, with adjustments for tender crops.
| City · NOAA station | Last frost, on average | Plant tender crops from | Frost is over, 9 of 10 years by | Fall frost possible from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AmesAMES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT · 4 km | Apr 26 | May 7May 7 | May 17 | Sep 23 |
| AnkenyANKENY · 4 km | Apr 23 | May 5May 5 | May 16 | Sep 30 |
| BettendorfLE CLAIRE L&D 14 · 6 km | Apr 16 | Apr 27April 27 | May 8 | Oct 11 |
| Cedar FallsWATERLOO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT · 6 km | Apr 27 | May 7May 7 | May 17 | Sep 26 |
| Cedar RapidsCEDAR RAPIDS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT · 10 km | Apr 27 | May 9May 9 | May 20 | Sep 25 |
| Council BluffsOMAHA EPPLEY AIRFIELD · 9 km | Apr 18 | Apr 30April 30 | May 11 | Oct 6 |
| DavenportROCK ISLAND L&D 15 · 5 km | Apr 19 | May 2May 2 | May 14 | Oct 7 |
| Des MoinesDES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT · 6 km | Apr 18 | Apr 29April 29 | May 10 | Oct 4 |
| DubuqueDUBUQUE L&D 11 · 7 km | Apr 19 | May 2May 2 | May 14 | Oct 7 |
| Iowa CityIOWA CITY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT · 3 km | Apr 21 | May 3May 3 | May 15 | Oct 4 |
| JohnstonDES MOINES WSFO-JOHNSTON · 5 km | Apr 19 | May 1May 1 | May 13 | Oct 1 |
| MarionCEDAR RAPIDS #1 · 1 km | Apr 28 | May 10May 10 | May 22 | Sep 29 |
| MarshalltownMARSHALLTOWN · 4 km | Apr 28 | May 9May 9 | May 20 | Sep 22 |
| Mason CityMASON CITY · 2 km | Apr 29 | May 9May 9 | May 19 | Sep 25 |
| OttumwaOTTUMWA INDUSTRIAL AIRPORT · 10 km | Apr 23 | May 5May 5 | May 16 | Sep 29 |
| Sioux CitySIOUX CITY ANG · 11 km | Apr 29 | May 10May 10 | May 21 | Sep 24 |
| UrbandaleDES MOINES WSFO-JOHNSTON · 12 km | Apr 19 | May 1May 1 | May 13 | Oct 1 |
| WaterlooWATERLOO MUNICIPAL AIRPORT · 8 km | Apr 27 | May 7May 7 | May 17 | Sep 26 |
| WaukeeDES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT · 20 km | Apr 18 | Apr 29April 29 | May 10 | Oct 4 |
| West Des MoinesDES MOINES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT · 11 km | Apr 18 | Apr 29April 29 | May 10 | Oct 4 |
Iowa's 20 largest cities (U.S. Census Bureau 2025 estimates), A to Z, each with its nearest NOAA station and the distance to it. Search any town to get its nearest station. "Plant tender crops from" is halfway between the average last frost and the date frost is over 9 years in 10; if frost is in the forecast after it, wait until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
§ 020 · What to plant
Planting windows from Iowa's Cooperative Extension Service. Filter by season or crop group; every view has its own link.
Link to this view getezina.com/when-to-plant/iowa/
§ 030 · Crop by crop
Each crop has its own link, like #tomatoes. Tender crops wait for the frost dates above; succession crops are sown again every few weeks for a steady harvest.
Beta vulgaris
Cool seasonSuccession sow
Plant January to December.
Ready in about 58 days; sow again every 6 weeks.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Brassica oleracea
Cool season
Set out transplants April.
Ready in about 95 days from seed, 65 from transplants.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Brassica oleracea
Cool season
Set out transplants January to December, and again May to August.
Ready in about 110 days from seed, 80 from transplants.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Cucumis melo
Tender
Sow May to June.
Ready in about 80 days from seed, 70 from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Daucus carota
Cool seasonSuccession sow
Sow January to December, and again August to May.
Ready in about 70 days; sow again every 7 weeks.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Brassica oleracea
Cool season
Set out transplants April.
Ready in about 95 days from seed, 68 from transplants.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Brassica oleracea
Cool season
Sow July.
Ready in about 65 days from seed, 55 from transplants.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Cucumis sativus
TenderSuccession sow
Sow May to July.
Ready in about 58 days from seed, 50 from transplants; sow again every 7 weeks. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Solanum melongena
Tender
Set out transplants May, and again June.
Ready in about 75 days from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Phaseolus vulgaris
TenderSuccession sow
Plant January to December.
Ready in about 55 days; sow again every 5 weeks. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Brassica oleracea
Cool season
Sow July.
Ready in about 60 days from seed, 45 from transplants.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Lactuca sativa
Cool seasonSuccession sow
Sow August.
Ready in about 45 days from seed, 30 from transplants; sow again every 6 weeks.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Phaseolus lunatus
Tender
Plant May to June.
Ready in about 75 days. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Pisum sativum
Cool seasonSuccession sow
Sow May to August.
Ready in about 65 days; sow again every 5 weeks.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Capsicum annuum
Tender
Set out transplants May, and again June.
Ready in about 70 days from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Solanum tuberosum
Cool season
Plant April.
Ready in about 100 days.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Cucurbita pepo
Tender
Sow May.
Ready in about 110 days from seed, 95 from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Raphanus sativus
Cool seasonSuccession sow
Sow July, and again August, and again September.
Ready in about 28 days; sow again every 3 weeks.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Spinacia oleracea
Cool seasonSuccession sow
Sow April, and again May to August.
Ready in about 42 days; sow again every 5 weeks.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Cucurbita pepo
TenderSuccession sow
Sow May to July.
Ready in about 50 days from seed, 40 from transplants; sow again every 7 weeks. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Zea mays
TenderSuccession sow
Plant January to December.
Ready in about 78 days; sow again every 6 weeks. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Beta vulgaris
Cool season
Plant January to December.
Ready in about 55 days from seed, 40 from transplants.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Solanum lycopersicum
Tender
Set out transplants May to June.
Ready in about 75 days from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Brassica rapa
Cool seasonSuccession sow
Sow April, and again August to September.
Ready in about 50 days; sow again every 5 weeks.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Citrullus lanatus
Tender
Sow May to June.
Ready in about 85 days from seed, 75 from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
Cucurbita moschata
Tender
Sow May.
Ready in about 95 days from seed, 80 from transplants. Tender: in spring, from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, hold off until it passes and nights stay above 36°F.
Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Planting and harvesting times for garden vegetables. Days to harvest: Ezina crop catalog, from state extension guides.
§ 040 · Questions
On average from about April 16 in Bettendorf to April 29 in Mason City. Frost is over 9 years in 10 by May 8 to May 22.
The extension service lists May to June. Tomatoes are frost-tender, so Ezina dates them from about April 29 in Des Moines. If frost is in the forecast, wait until it passes.
The extension calendar lists beets, cabbage, carrots, green beans, sweet corn, swiss chard for October.
The latest fall windows on the calendar close in September. Filter by Fall above to see what is still open.
A zone is the coldest winter night, not a frost date. These dates come from NOAA station records and the extension service.
Yes. Run Ezina Dig on your address and your bed plans are dated from that site's own frost records, on iPhone and Android in the contiguous U.S.