Quantcast
Planting Calendar for Grinnell, IA | Almanac.com
For daily wit & wisdom, sign up for the Almanac Daily newsletter.

Planting Calendar for Grinnell, IA

Enter your zip code or postal code above.

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. 

Use the icon below for the best print or email format.

Print Friendly and PDF

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 8 (at GRINNELL 3 SW, IA climate station, elevation 905 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 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Sep 2
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 6
May 8
BasilFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
Aug 19
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 24-May 8
Moon Apr 24-May 6
Frost Apr 10-17
May 22
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/AJul 8
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jun 19
BroccoliFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Jul 29
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Jun 24
CabbageFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
Jun 17
CantaloupesFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 8-22
Moon May 8-22
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 15-22
Jun 24
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 24
Jul 22
CauliflowerFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 1-15
Moon May 7-15
N/AJul 22
CeleryFrost Feb 13-27
Moon Feb 13-24
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost May 8
Moon May 8
Jul 22
ChivesFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Aug 5
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 8-22
Moon May 8-22
May 29
CollardsFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Jul 22
CucumbersFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jul 22
DillN/AN/AFrost May 1-22
Moon May 7-22
Aug 5
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jun 24
EggplantsFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/AJul 22
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
FennelFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 15-22
Frost May 8-22
Moon May 8-22
Jul 15
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 15-Jun 5
Moon May 15-23
Jul 22
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jul 1
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
KohlrabiFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
LeeksFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
N/AJun 17
LettuceFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 10-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
Jul 22
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 24
N/AJun 24
OreganoFrost Feb 27-Mar 27
Moon Mar 14-25
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
N/AJul 22
ParsleyFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost Apr 10-May 15
Moon Apr 10-23, May 7-15
Jul 15
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Jun 24
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 24
Jul 22
PumpkinsFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jun 17
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Aug 5
RosemaryFrost Feb 13-27
Moon Feb 13-24
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/AAug 5
SageFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
N/AJul 15
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-24
Moon Apr 24
Jun 24
SpinachFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost Apr 10-17
Moon Apr 10-17
May 22
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
Jul 15
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 24-Jun 5
Jun 17
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost Apr 24-May 8
Moon May 7-8
Frost Apr 17-May 8
Moon Apr 17-23, May 7-8
May 22
ThymeFrost Feb 27-Mar 13
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 15-22
N/AJul 8
TomatillosFrost Mar 27-Apr 10
Moon Apr 8-10
Frost May 22-Jun 5
Moon May 22-23
N/AJul 15
TomatoesFrost Mar 13-27
Moon Mar 13-25
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
N/AJul 1
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 10-17
Sep 2
WatermelonsFrost Apr 17-May 1
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Frost May 15-22
Moon May 15-22
Jul 1
Winter SquashFrost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jun 10
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 17-24
Moon Apr 17-23
Frost May 15-29
Moon May 15-23
Frost May 22-29
Moon May 22-23
Jul 29

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on September 30 (at GRINNELL 3 SW, IA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 12-Sep 16
Moon Aug 12-19, Sep 2-16
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 8-Aug 5
Moon Jul 22-Aug 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 22-Aug 12
Moon Aug 4-12
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 1-8
Moon Jul 5-8
Frost Jul 22-Aug 5
Moon Aug 4-5
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 10-24
Moon Jun 10-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 1-8
Moon Jul 5-8
Frost Jul 22-29
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 15-22
Moon Jul 22
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 24-Jul 1
Frost Jul 8-15
Moon Jul 8-15
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 8-Aug 5
Moon Jul 8-21, Aug 4-5
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 1-15
Moon Jul 5-15
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 14-28
Moon Oct 18-28
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 15-29
Moon Jul 15-21
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 22-Aug 5
Moon Aug 4-5
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Jul 29-Aug 19
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 22-Aug 5
Moon Aug 4-5
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Jul 29-Aug 19
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jul 22-Aug 5
Moon Aug 4-5
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 19-Sep 2
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 12-Sep 2
Moon Aug 12-19, Sep 2
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 22-Aug 5
Moon Aug 4-5
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Jul 29-Aug 12
Moon Jul 29-Aug 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
The Old Farmer's Store