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Planting Calendar for Altoona, IA | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Altoona, IA

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 28 (at DES MOINES 17 E, IA climate station, elevation 921 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Sep 12
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 24-28
Apr 28
BasilFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Aug 29
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 24-28
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
May 12
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
N/AJul 18
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jun 9
BroccoliFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Aug 8
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Jul 4
CabbageFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
Jun 27
CantaloupesFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon May 7-12
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jul 4
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
Aug 1
CauliflowerFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
N/AAug 1
CeleryFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 9-17
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
Frost Apr 28
Aug 1
ChivesFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Aug 15
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 28-May 12
Moon May 7-12
May 19
CollardsFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
Frost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Aug 1
CucumbersFrost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Aug 1
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 21-May 12
Moon Apr 21-23, May 7-12
Aug 15
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jul 4
EggplantsFrost Mar 2-17
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
N/AAug 1
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 7
May 12
FennelFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon May 7-12
Jul 25
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 5-26
Moon May 7-23
Aug 1
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jul 11
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
May 12
KohlrabiFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
May 12
LeeksFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
N/AJun 27
LettuceFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
May 12
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Aug 1
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
N/AJul 4
OreganoFrost Feb 17-Mar 17
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
N/AAug 1
ParsleyFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
Frost Mar 31-May 5
Moon Apr 8-23
Jul 25
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
Jul 4
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 7
May 12
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
Aug 1
PumpkinsFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jun 27
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
Aug 15
RosemaryFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 9-17
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
N/AAug 15
SageFrost Mar 2-17
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
N/AJul 25
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
Jul 4
SpinachFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 31-Apr 7
May 12
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Jul 25
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 12-26
Moon May 24-26
Jun 27
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
Frost Apr 7-28
Moon Apr 8-23
May 12
ThymeFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
N/AJul 18
TomatillosFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
N/AJul 25
TomatoesFrost Mar 2-17
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
N/AJul 11
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 7
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
Sep 12
WatermelonsFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jul 11
Winter SquashFrost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jun 20
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 7-14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Aug 8

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 10 (at DES MOINES 17 E, IA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 22-Sep 26
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 18-Aug 15
Moon Jul 22-Aug 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 1-22
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 11-18
Moon Jul 11-18
Frost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 4-15
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 20-Jul 4
Moon Jun 20-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 11-18
Moon Jul 11-18
Frost Aug 1-8
Moon Aug 4-8
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 25-Aug 1
Moon Jul 25-Aug 1
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 4-11
Moon Jul 5-11
Frost Jul 18-25
Moon Jul 18-21
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 18-Aug 15
Moon Jul 18-21, Aug 4-15
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 11-25
Moon Jul 11-21
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 24-Nov 6
Moon Oct 24-31
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 4-15
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 8-29
Moon Aug 8-19
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 4-15
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 8-29
Moon Aug 8-19
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 4-15
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 29-Sep 12
Moon Aug 29-Sep 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 22-Sep 12
Moon Sep 2-12
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 4-15
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 8-22
Moon Aug 20-22
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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