Iowa: Vegetable Planting Calendar
Planting vegetable seeds or transplants at the correct time is important for getting the most out of your garden. Knowing your first and last frost dates will help you start your vegetable seeds at the right time.
Iowa is in USDA plant hardiness zones 4-6.
Learning Download: Growing in Iowa
Iowa Last & First Frost Dates
| City | Last Frost Date | First Frost Date |
| Ames | 4/26 | 10/6 |
| Cedar Rapids | 5/8 | 9/29 |
| Council Buffs | 4/21 | 10/12 |
| Davenport | 4/13 | 10/19 |
| Des Moines | 4/25 | 10/6 |
| Dubuque | 4/29 | 10/6 |
| Iowa City | 4/25 | 10/6 |
| Sioux City | 5/2 | 9/29 |
| Waterloo | 4/27 | 10/4 |
*Based on statistics there is a 10% chance that frost will occur before or after these dates. Watch your local weather for more accurate dates.
Iowa on average has approximately 160 days between the last and first frost. Use the planting schedules below for planning when to plant tomatoes, peppers and more.
Zone 4 Planting Schedule
Zone 5 Planting Schedule
Zone 6 Planting Schedule
