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Planting Calendar for Mount Pleasant, IA | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Mount Pleasant, 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 May 6 (at MT PLEASANT 1 SSW, IA climate station, elevation 731 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 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Sep 5
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 24-May 6
May 6
BasilFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost May 20-Jun 3
Moon May 20-23
Frost May 20-Jun 3
Moon May 20-23
Aug 22
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 24-May 6
Frost Apr 8-15
May 20
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
N/AJul 11
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Jun 17
BroccoliFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 22-23
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Aug 1
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 22-23
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Jun 27
CabbageFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 22-23
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
Jun 20
CantaloupesFrost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Jun 27
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-22
Jul 25
CauliflowerFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost Apr 29-May 13
Moon May 7-13
N/AJul 25
CeleryFrost Feb 11-25
Moon Feb 11-24
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Frost May 6
Jul 25
ChivesFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Frost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Aug 8
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
May 27
CollardsFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 22-23
Frost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Jul 25
CucumbersFrost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Jul 25
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 29-May 20
Moon May 7-20
Aug 8
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Jun 27
EggplantsFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
N/AJul 25
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
May 20
FennelFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Frost May 6-20
Moon May 7-20
Jul 18
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 13-Jun 3
Moon May 13-23
Jul 25
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Jul 4
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 22-23
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
May 20
KohlrabiFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
May 20
LeeksFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Frost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
N/AJun 20
LettuceFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
May 20
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 8-22
Moon Apr 8-22
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Frost May 20-Jun 3
Moon May 20-23
Jul 25
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 8-22
N/AJun 27
OreganoFrost Feb 25-Mar 25
Moon Mar 12-25
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
N/AJul 25
ParsleyFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Frost Apr 8-May 13
Moon Apr 8-23
Jul 18
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Jun 27
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
May 20
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-22
Jul 25
PumpkinsFrost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Jun 20
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Aug 8
RosemaryFrost Feb 11-25
Moon Feb 11-24
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
N/AAug 8
SageFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
N/AJul 18
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-22
Jun 27
SpinachFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Frost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
May 20
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 20-Jun 3
Moon May 20-23
Jul 18
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 20-Jun 3
Moon May 24-Jun 3
Jun 20
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost Apr 22-May 6
Moon Apr 22-23
Frost Apr 15-May 6
Moon Apr 15-23
May 20
ThymeFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
N/AJul 11
TomatillosFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost May 20-Jun 3
Moon May 20-23
N/AJul 18
TomatoesFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
N/AJul 4
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Sep 5
WatermelonsFrost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Jul 4
Winter SquashFrost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Jun 13
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 15-22
Moon Apr 15-22
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Aug 1

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 3 (at MT PLEASANT 1 SSW, IA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 15-Sep 19
Moon Aug 15-19, Sep 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 11-Aug 8
Moon Jul 22-Aug 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 25-Aug 15
Moon Aug 4-15
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 4-11
Moon Jul 5-11
Frost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 13-27
Moon Jun 13-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 4-11
Moon Jul 5-11
Frost Jul 25-Aug 1
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 18-25
Moon Jul 22-25
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 27-Jul 4
Frost Jul 11-18
Moon Jul 11-18
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 11-Aug 8
Moon Jul 11-21, Aug 4-8
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 4-18
Moon Jul 5-18
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 17-31
Moon Oct 18-31
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 18-Aug 1
Moon Jul 18-21
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 1-22
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 1-22
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 22-Sep 5
Moon Aug 22-Sep 1
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 15-Sep 5
Moon Aug 15-19, Sep 2-5
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 1-15
Moon Aug 1-3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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