When to plant carrots in Iowa

Carrots
Sow outdoors in Des Moines
Mar 28–May 2

Across Iowa the window opens between March 25 and April 8. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Des Moines
Mar 28–May 2
Fall planting, Des Moines
Jul 28–Aug 11
Last frost, Des Moines
Apr 18

Sow outdoors from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Keep the seedbed moist until carrots come up. They can take two to three weeks to sprout.

Carrots planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Des MoinesMar 28–May 2
Cedar RapidsApr 6–May 11
DavenportMar 29–May 3
Sioux CityApr 8–May 13
AnkenyApr 2–May 7
Iowa CityMar 31–May 5
West Des MoinesMar 28–May 2
AmesApr 5–May 10
WaterlooApr 6–May 11
Council BluffsMar 28–May 2
DubuqueMar 29–May 3
UrbandaleMar 29–May 3
MarionApr 7–May 12
Cedar FallsApr 6–May 11
BettendorfMar 26–Apr 30
WaukeeMar 28–May 2
MarshalltownApr 7–May 12
Mason CityApr 8–May 13
OttumwaApr 2–May 7
JohnstonMar 29–May 3
Fort DodgeApr 7–May 12
ClintonApr 1–May 6
CoralvilleMar 31–May 5
BurlingtonMar 25–Apr 29
MuscatineApr 3–May 8
AltoonaApr 2–May 7
North LibertyMar 31–May 5

Questions

When should I plant carrots in Iowa?

In Des Moines, sow outdoors from March 28 to May 2. Across Iowa the window opens between March 25 and April 8, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Iowa

Carrots in other states

Frost dates for every city in Iowa