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Planting Calendar for Denison, 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-season 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 Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 4 (at DENISON, IA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 16-Sep 20
Moon Aug 16-19, Sep 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 12-Aug 9
Moon Jul 22-Aug 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 26-Aug 16
Moon Aug 4-16
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 5-12
Moon Jul 5-12
Frost Jul 26-Aug 9
Moon Aug 4-9
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 14-28
Moon Jun 14-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 5-12
Moon Jul 5-12
Frost Jul 26-Aug 2
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 19-26
Moon Jul 22-26
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 28-Jul 5
Moon Jul 5
Frost Jul 12-19
Moon Jul 12-19
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 12-Aug 9
Moon Jul 12-21, Aug 4-9
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 5-19
Moon Jul 5-19
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 18-Nov 1
Moon Oct 18-31
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 19-Aug 2
Moon Jul 19-21
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 26-Aug 9
Moon Aug 4-9
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 2-23
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 26-Aug 9
Moon Aug 4-9
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 2-23
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jul 26-Aug 9
Moon Aug 4-9
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 23-Sep 6
Moon Aug 23-Sep 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 16-Sep 6
Moon Aug 16-19, Sep 2-6
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 26-Aug 9
Moon Aug 4-9
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 2-16
Moon Aug 2-3
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 2 (at DENISON, IA climate station, elevation 1400 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 6-21
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
Sep 6
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 24-May 2
May 2
BasilFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost May 16-30
Moon May 16-23
Frost May 16-30
Moon May 16-23
Aug 23
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 24-May 2
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 4-7
May 16
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
N/AJul 12
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Jun 13
BroccoliFrost Mar 6-21
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
Aug 2
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
Jun 28
CabbageFrost Mar 6-21
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
May 9
CantaloupesFrost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost May 2-16
Moon May 7-16
Frost May 9-16
Moon May 9-16
Jun 28
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 4-7
Jul 26
CauliflowerFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Apr 25-May 9
Moon May 7-9
N/AJul 19
CeleryFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost May 9-23
Moon May 9-23
Frost May 2
Jul 26
ChivesFrost Mar 6-21
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Aug 9
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 2-16
Moon May 7-16
May 23
CollardsFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Jul 26
CucumbersFrost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost May 9-23
Moon May 9-23
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Jul 26
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 25-May 16
Moon May 7-16
Aug 9
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Jun 28
EggplantsFrost Mar 6-21
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
N/AJul 26
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
May 16
FennelFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost May 9-16
Moon May 9-16
Frost May 2-16
Moon May 7-16
Jul 19
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 9-30
Moon May 9-23
Jul 26
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Jul 5
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 6-21
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
May 16
KohlrabiFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
May 16
LeeksFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
N/AJun 21
LettuceFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
May 16
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 8-18
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Frost May 16-30
Moon May 16-23
Jul 26
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 4-7
N/AJun 28
OreganoFrost Feb 21-Mar 21
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost May 9-23
Moon May 9-23
N/AJul 26
ParsleyFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost May 9-23
Moon May 9-23
Frost Apr 4-May 9
Moon Apr 8-23
Jul 19
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 4-7
Jun 28
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 23-Jun 6
Moon May 24-Jun 5
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
May 16
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 4-7
Jul 26
PumpkinsFrost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Jun 21
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 4-7
Aug 9
RosemaryFrost Feb 7-21
Moon Feb 9-21
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
N/AAug 9
SageFrost Mar 6-21
Frost May 9-23
Moon May 9-23
N/AJul 19
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 4-18
Moon Apr 4-7
Jun 28
SpinachFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 8-11
May 16
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 16-30
Moon May 16-23
Jul 19
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 16-30
Moon May 24-30
Jun 21
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost Apr 18-May 2
Moon Apr 18-23
Frost Apr 11-May 2
Moon Apr 11-23
May 16
ThymeFrost Feb 21-Mar 6
Moon Feb 21-24
Frost May 9-16
Moon May 9-16
N/AJul 12
TomatillosFrost Mar 21-Apr 4
Moon Mar 21-25
Frost May 16-30
Moon May 16-23
N/AJul 19
TomatoesFrost Mar 6-21
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
N/AJul 5
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 4-11
Moon Apr 4-7
Sep 6
WatermelonsFrost Apr 11-25
Moon Apr 11-23
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Frost May 9-16
Moon May 9-16
Jul 5
Winter SquashFrost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost May 9-23
Moon May 9-23
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Jun 14
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 11-18
Moon Apr 11-18
Frost May 9-23
Moon May 9-23
Frost May 16-23
Moon May 16-23
Aug 2
The Old Farmer's Store