When to plant beets in Iowa

Beets
Sow outdoors in Des Moines
Mar 21–May 2

Across Iowa the window opens between March 18 and April 1. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Des Moines
Mar 21–May 2
Fall planting, Des Moines
Aug 11–Aug 25
Last frost, Des Moines
Apr 18

Sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Each beet seed is a cluster that gives several seedlings. Thin them to 3 inches apart.

Beets planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Des MoinesMar 21–May 2
Cedar RapidsMar 30–May 11
DavenportMar 22–May 3
Sioux CityApr 1–May 13
AnkenyMar 26–May 7
Iowa CityMar 24–May 5
West Des MoinesMar 21–May 2
AmesMar 29–May 10
WaterlooMar 30–May 11
Council BluffsMar 21–May 2
DubuqueMar 22–May 3
UrbandaleMar 22–May 3
MarionMar 31–May 12
Cedar FallsMar 30–May 11
BettendorfMar 19–Apr 30
WaukeeMar 21–May 2
MarshalltownMar 31–May 12
Mason CityApr 1–May 13
OttumwaMar 26–May 7
JohnstonMar 22–May 3
Fort DodgeMar 31–May 12
ClintonMar 25–May 6
CoralvilleMar 24–May 5
BurlingtonMar 18–Apr 29
MuscatineMar 27–May 8
AltoonaMar 26–May 7
North LibertyMar 24–May 5

Questions

When should I plant beets in Iowa?

In Des Moines, sow outdoors from March 21 to May 2. Across Iowa the window opens between March 18 and April 1, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Iowa

Beets in other states

Frost dates for every city in Iowa