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Planting Calendar for Spencer, 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-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 September 28 (at SPENCER 1 N, IA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 10-Sep 14
Moon Aug 10-19, Sep 2-14
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 6-Aug 3
Moon Jul 22-Aug 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 20-Aug 10
Moon Jul 20-21, Aug 4-10
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jun 29-Jul 6
Moon Jul 5-6
Frost Jul 20-Aug 3
Moon Jul 20-21
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jun 8-22
Moon Jun 8-21
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jun 29-Jul 6
Moon Jul 5-6
Frost Jul 20-27
Moon Jul 20-21
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 13-20
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 22-29
Frost Jul 6-13
Moon Jul 6-13
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 6-Aug 3
Moon Jul 6-21
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jun 29-Jul 13
Moon Jul 5-13
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 12-26
Moon Oct 18-26
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 13-27
Moon Jul 13-21
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 20-Aug 3
Moon Jul 20-21
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Jul 27-Aug 17
Moon Aug 4-17
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 20-Aug 3
Moon Jul 20-21
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Jul 27-Aug 17
Moon Aug 4-17
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jul 20-Aug 3
Moon Jul 20-21
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 17-31
Moon Aug 20-31
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 10-31
Moon Aug 10-19
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 20-Aug 3
Moon Jul 20-21
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Jul 27-Aug 10
Moon Jul 27-Aug 3
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 6 (at SPENCER 1 N, IA climate station, elevation 1325 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
Aug 31
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 17
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 6
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
Jul 27
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 22
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
May 13
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 22
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-22
Jul 20
CauliflowerFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost Apr 29-May 13
Moon May 7-13
N/AJul 13
CeleryFrost Feb 11-25
Moon Feb 11-24
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Frost May 6
Jul 20
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 3
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 20
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 20
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 29-May 20
Moon May 7-20
Aug 3
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Jun 22
EggplantsFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
N/AJul 20
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 13
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 13-Jun 3
Moon May 13-23
Jul 20
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
Jun 29
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 15
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
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
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 20
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 8-22
N/AJun 22
OreganoFrost Feb 25-Mar 25
Moon Mar 12-25
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
N/AJul 20
ParsleyFrost Feb 25-Mar 11
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
Frost Apr 8-May 13
Moon Apr 8-23
Jul 13
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Jun 22
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 27-Jun 10
Moon May 27-Jun 5
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Moon Apr 8-15
May 20
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-22
Jul 20
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 15
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Aug 3
RosemaryFrost Feb 11-25
Moon Feb 11-24
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
N/AAug 3
SageFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost May 13-27
Moon May 13-23
N/AJul 13
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-22
Jun 22
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 13
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 20-Jun 3
Moon May 24-Jun 3
Jun 15
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 6
TomatillosFrost Mar 25-Apr 8
Moon Mar 25
Frost May 20-Jun 3
Moon May 20-23
N/AJul 13
TomatoesFrost Mar 11-25
Moon Mar 11-25
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
N/AJun 29
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 8-15
Aug 31
WatermelonsFrost Apr 15-29
Moon Apr 15-23
Frost May 20-27
Moon May 20-23
Frost May 13-20
Moon May 13-20
Jun 29
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 8
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
Jul 27
The Old Farmer's Store