Vegetable Planting Calendar: Waterloo, Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa is located in USDA Hardiness Zone 5. 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’s USDA Hardiness Zones range from 4 to 6, making it ideal for cool-weather crops. Iowa’s zones begin with zone 4 in a small patch in both the northwest and northeast corners of the state. Zone 5 takes over from there, taking up a larger portion of the remaining state. However, zone 6 is present in the southernmost tip of the state. First frost dates begin as early as the end of September in areas such as Sioux City, and frost dates can hold out as late as the first week of May. Waterloo’s first frost date is 10/4 and its last frost date is 4/27.
Use your last and first frost dates below to calculate your planting schedules.
Learning Download: Growing and Harvesting in Iowa
Waterloo, Iowa: Zone 5
Spring Last Frost Date: 4/27
Fall First Frost Date: 10/4
| Spring: Start Seeds Indoors | Spring: Direct Sow/Transplant | Fall: Start Seeds Indoors | Fall: Direct Sow/Transplant | |
| Artichokes | 3/2 | 4/27 | ||
| Beans | Direct Sow | 4/27 | Direct Sow | 7/26 |
| Beets | 3/2 | 4/13 | Direct Sow | 7/26 |
| Broccoli | 3/2 | 4/13 | 6/16 | 7/16 |
| Brussels Sprouts | 3/2 | 4/13 | 5/7 | 6/6 |
| Cabbage | 2/16 | 3/30 | 6/8 | 7/6 |
| Carrots | Direct Sow | 4/6 | Direct Sow | 7/10 |
| Cauliflower | 3/2 | 4/13 | 6/16 | 7/16 |
| Celery | 2/9 | 5/4 | 5/17 | 6/14 |
| Chard | 3/2 | 4/13 | Direct Sow | 7/31 |
| Collards | 2/23 | 3/30 | 6/9 | 7/9 |
| Corn | Direct Sow | 5/4 | ||
| Cucumbers | Direct Sow | 4/27 | ||
| Eggplant | 3/16 | 5/11 | ||
| Gourds | Direct Sow | 5/11 | ||
| Kale | 2/16 | 3/30 | Direct Sow | 7/11 |
| Kohlrabi | 2/16 | 3/30 | Direct Sow | 8/5 |
| Leek | 2/2 | 4/13 | 5/12 | 6/16 |
| Lettuce | 2/4 | 3/30 | 6/26 | 7/26 |
| Melons | Direct Sow | 5/11 | ||
| Okra | 3/16 | 5/11 | ||
| Onions | 1/19 | 3/30 | 6/16 | 7/26 |
| Peas | Direct Sow | 3/2 | Direct Sow | 6/26 |
| Peppers | 3/2 | 5/4 | ||
| Pumpkins | Direct Sow | 5/11 | ||
| Radishes | Direct Sow | 3/23 | Direct Sow | 8/25 |
| Spinach | 2/9 | 3/16 | 7/16 | 8/8 |
| Squash | 4/13 | 5/11 | ||
| Tomatoes | 3/9 | 5/4 | ||
| Turnips | Direct Sow | 3/23 | Direct Sow | 8/5 |
| Watermelon | 4/13 | 5/11 |
Download as a pdf: When to Plant in Waterloo
*Planting dates are based on past weather data. There is a 10% chance that you will have a frost outside of the range above. Watch local weather for more accurate frost dates. These are the recommended vegetable planting dates. If you have any questions about the calendar dates please give us a call. Urban Farmer offers a large selection of vegetable seeds to gardeners and farmers throughout the United States.
