When to plant lettuce in Iowa

Plant out in Des Moines

Apr 4–Apr 25

Across Iowa the window opens between April 1 and April 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Des Moines: Feb 21–Mar 7
Plant out, Des Moines: Apr 4–Apr 25
Sow outdoors, Des Moines: Mar 21–Apr 25
Fall planting, Des Moines: Aug 25–Sep 8
Last frost, Des Moines: Apr 18

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 6–8 weeks before the first frost. Lettuce bolts in heat. Sow small batches every two weeks in spring and again in late summer.

Lettuce planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Des MoinesApr 4–Apr 25

Cedar RapidsApr 13–May 4

DavenportApr 5–Apr 26

Sioux CityApr 15–May 6

AnkenyApr 9–Apr 30

Iowa CityApr 7–Apr 28

West Des MoinesApr 4–Apr 25

AmesApr 12–May 3

WaterlooApr 13–May 4

Council BluffsApr 4–Apr 25

DubuqueApr 5–Apr 26

UrbandaleApr 5–Apr 26

MarionApr 14–May 5

Cedar FallsApr 13–May 4

BettendorfApr 2–Apr 23

WaukeeApr 4–Apr 25

MarshalltownApr 14–May 5

Mason CityApr 15–May 6

OttumwaApr 9–Apr 30

JohnstonApr 5–Apr 26

Fort DodgeApr 14–May 5

ClintonApr 8–Apr 29

CoralvilleApr 7–Apr 28

BurlingtonApr 1–Apr 22

MuscatineApr 10–May 1

AltoonaApr 9–Apr 30

North LibertyApr 7–Apr 28

Questions

When should I plant lettuce in Iowa?

In Des Moines, plant out from April 4 to April 25. Across Iowa the window opens between April 1 and April 15, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 6–8 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Iowa

Lettuce in other states

Frost dates for every city in Iowa