Des Moines, Iowa planting calendar and frost dates
Des Moines is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 18 and the first fall frost around October 20, giving about 184 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- April 18
- Typical first frost
- October 20
- Frost-free season
- 184 days
Frost dates in Des Moines
Last spring frost
- April 4Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 18Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 2Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 4Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 20Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 1Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 184 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 8 and returns around October 30.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 miles SSW 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 Des Moines
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, 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, 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, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, 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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: bearded irises, 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, beets, broccoli, 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, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Des Moines
All 10 of Des Moines's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Des Moines International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50211 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50309 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50310 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50312 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50313 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50315 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50316 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50317 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50320 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| 50321 | 5b | Des Moines International Airport, 5.1 mi SSW | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
Des Moines International Airport also supplies the frost dates for West Des Moines, so their planting calendars match Des Moines's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Des Moines
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 15 to 29 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 11 to 25 | Jul 21 to Aug 25 |
| Cilantro | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 18 to 25 | — |
| Basil | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 12 to 19 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
| Onions | Dec 27 to Feb 7 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 12 to 26 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 12 to 26 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 22 to Mar 22 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 28 to Apr 18 | Jul 28 to Aug 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 23 to 30 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 5 to 19 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 12 to 26 | May 10 to 24 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Peas | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Spinach | Mar 7 to 14 | Apr 11 to 25 | Aug 11 to Sep 15 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 18 to May 9 | — |
| Zinnias | May 10 to 17 | Jun 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 8 to Nov 3 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 8 to Oct 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 8 to 22 |
Nearby cities
- West Des Moines, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 18
- Ankeny, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 23
- 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 Des Moines
Questions
When is the last frost in Des Moines?
Around April 18 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Des Moines International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 2.
What planting zone is Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
Start seeds indoors March 15 to 29 and set plants out May 10 to 24.
When is the first frost in Des Moines?
Around October 20 in a typical year, and before October 4 about 1 year in 10.