In Des Moines, the average last spring frost is Apr 22 and the average first fall frost is Oct 18, a growing season of about 179 days (zone 5b). Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 11 and move them outside from May 6. Plant garlic Oct 25 to Nov 1, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Des Moines at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 22 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 18 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 179 days
- Hardiness zone
- 5b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Ankeny, IA; Des Moines WSFO-Johnston, IA; and Des Moines Intl AP, IA, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Des Moines this month (January)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Des Moines in January. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 11.
What to plant in Des Moines this month (February)
- Start onions indoors: Feb 11
Coming up in early March: start tomatoes indoors (Mar 11), start peppers indoors (Mar 11), start eggplant indoors (Mar 11) and start lettuce indoors (Mar 11).
What to plant in Des Moines this month (March)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Mar 11
- Start peppers indoors: Mar 11
- Start eggplant indoors: Mar 11
- Start lettuce indoors: Mar 11
- Start kale indoors: Mar 18
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 18
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 18
- Start basil indoors: Mar 25
Coming up in early April: direct sow spinach (Apr 1), direct sow peas (Apr 1), direct sow radishes (Apr 1), transplant lettuce (Apr 8), direct sow carrots (Apr 8), start cucumbers indoors (Apr 8), start zucchini indoors (Apr 8) and start winter squash indoors (Apr 8).
What to plant in Des Moines this month (April)
- Direct sow spinach: Apr 1
- Direct sow peas: Apr 1
- Direct sow radishes: Apr 1
- Transplant lettuce: Apr 8
- Direct sow carrots: Apr 8
- Start cucumbers indoors: Apr 8
- Start zucchini indoors: Apr 8
- Start winter squash indoors: Apr 8
- Direct sow beets: Apr 15
- Transplant kale: Apr 15
- Transplant broccoli: Apr 15
- Transplant cabbage: Apr 15
- Direct sow potatoes: Apr 15
- Transplant onions: Apr 22
- Transplant cucumbers: Apr 29
- Transplant zucchini: Apr 29
- Transplant winter squash: Apr 29
- Direct sow beans: Apr 29
Coming up in early May: transplant tomatoes (May 6), transplant peppers (May 6), transplant eggplant (May 6) and transplant basil (May 6).
What to plant in Des Moines this month (May)
- Transplant tomatoes: May 6
- Transplant peppers: May 6
- Transplant eggplant: May 6
- Transplant basil: May 6
What to plant in Des Moines this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Des Moines in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 9.
What to plant in Des Moines this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Des Moines in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 9.
What to plant in Des Moines this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 9
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 9
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Aug 23
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Aug 30
Coming up in early September: sow radishes for a fall harvest (Sep 13).
What to plant in Des Moines this month (September)
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 13
What to plant in Des Moines this month (October)
- Plant garlic: Oct 25 to Nov 1
What to plant in Des Moines this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Oct 25 to Nov 1
What to plant in Des Moines this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Des Moines in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Feb 11.
Des Moines planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 11 | Transplant May 6 | From Jul 23 |
| Peppers | Mar 11 | Transplant May 6 | From Jul 17 |
| Eggplant | Mar 11 | Transplant May 6 | From Jul 20 |
| Basil | Mar 25 | Transplant May 6 | From Jun 17 |
| Onions (from seed) | Feb 11 | Transplant Apr 22 | From Jul 31 |
| Lettuce | Mar 11 | Transplant Apr 8Fall: direct sow Aug 23 | From May 18Fall: from Oct 2 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Apr 1Fall: direct sow Aug 30 | From May 11Fall: from Oct 9 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Apr 1Fall: direct sow Aug 9 | From May 31Fall: from Oct 8 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 1Fall: direct sow Sep 13 | From Apr 26Fall: from Oct 8 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Apr 8 | From Jun 17 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Apr 15 | From Jun 9 |
| Kale | Mar 18 | Transplant Apr 15Fall: direct sow Aug 9 | From Jun 9Fall: from Oct 3 |
| Broccoli | Mar 18 | Transplant Apr 15 | From Jun 19 |
| Cabbage | Mar 18 | Transplant Apr 15 | From Jun 24 |
| Cucumbers | Apr 8 | Transplant Apr 29 | From Jun 23 |
| Zucchini | Apr 8 | Transplant Apr 29 | From Jun 18 |
| Winter squash | Apr 8 | Transplant Apr 29 | From Jul 28 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Apr 29 | From Jun 23 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Apr 15 | From Jul 4 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Oct 25 to Nov 1 | Around Jul 15 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Des Moines's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Des Moines
Plant garlic Oct 25 to Nov 1. That is one to two weeks after Des Moines's average first fall frost of Oct 18, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jul 15 the following summer. How to plant garlic in Des Moines.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Des Moines:
- Peas: sow Aug 9, ready from about Oct 8
- Kale: sow Aug 9, ready from about Oct 3
- Lettuce: sow Aug 23, ready from about Oct 2
- Spinach: sow Aug 30, ready from about Oct 9
- Radishes: sow Sep 13, ready from about Oct 8
Nearby planting calendars
Des Moines planting questions
When is the last frost in Des Moines?
The average last spring frost in Des Moines is Apr 22, and the average first fall frost is Oct 18, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Des Moines?
Start tomatoes indoors around Mar 11, 8 weeks before moving them outside around May 6, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Des Moines in fall?
Garlic goes in Oct 25 to Nov 1. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 9, lettuce around Aug 23, spinach around Aug 30 and radishes around Sep 13.