Ankeny, Iowa planting calendar and frost dates
Ankeny is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 23 and the first fall frost around October 15, giving about 173 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- April 23
- Typical first frost
- October 15
- Frost-free season
- 173 days
Frost dates in Ankeny
Last spring frost
- April 8Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 6Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 30Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 15Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 173 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 13 and returns around October 25.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ankeny, 4.4 miles W of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Ankeny
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Ankeny
All 2 of Ankeny's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Ankeny, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Ankeny
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 16 to 30 | Jul 16 to Aug 20 |
| Cilantro | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Oct 15 to 29 |
| Onions | Jan 1 to Feb 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 16 to 30 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 16 to 30 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 26 to Mar 26 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 2 to 23 | Jul 23 to Aug 13 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 9 to 23 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 16 to 30 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 5 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Jul 30 to Aug 27 |
| Peas | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Jul 23 to Aug 6 |
| Spinach | Mar 12 to 19 | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 23 to May 14 | — |
| Zinnias | May 13 to 20 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 29 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 15 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Des Moines, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 18
- West Des Moines, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 18
- Ames, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 26
- Waterloo, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 27
- Cedar Rapids, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 28
- Iowa City, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 21
Planting in IowaAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Ankeny
Questions
When is the last frost in Ankeny?
Around April 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Ankeny. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 6.
What planting zone is Ankeny in?
USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Ankeny?
Start seeds indoors March 19 to April 2 and set plants out May 14 to 28.
When is the first frost in Ankeny?
Around October 15 in a typical year, and before September 30 about 1 year in 10.