When to plant peas in Iowa

Sow outdoors in Des Moines

Mar 7–Mar 21

Across Iowa the window opens between March 4 and March 18. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Des Moines: Mar 7–Mar 21
Fall planting, Des Moines: Aug 11–Aug 25
Last frost, Des Moines: Apr 18

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Peas handle frost. The usual mistake is sowing too late and losing the crop to summer heat.

Peas planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Des MoinesMar 7–Mar 21

Cedar RapidsMar 16–Mar 30

DavenportMar 8–Mar 22

Sioux CityMar 18–Apr 1

AnkenyMar 12–Mar 26

Iowa CityMar 10–Mar 24

West Des MoinesMar 7–Mar 21

AmesMar 15–Mar 29

WaterlooMar 16–Mar 30

Council BluffsMar 7–Mar 21

DubuqueMar 8–Mar 22

UrbandaleMar 8–Mar 22

MarionMar 17–Mar 31

Cedar FallsMar 16–Mar 30

BettendorfMar 5–Mar 19

WaukeeMar 7–Mar 21

MarshalltownMar 17–Mar 31

Mason CityMar 18–Apr 1

OttumwaMar 12–Mar 26

JohnstonMar 8–Mar 22

Fort DodgeMar 17–Mar 31

ClintonMar 11–Mar 25

CoralvilleMar 10–Mar 24

BurlingtonMar 4–Mar 18

MuscatineMar 13–Mar 27

AltoonaMar 12–Mar 26

North LibertyMar 10–Mar 24

Questions

When should I plant peas in Iowa?

In Des Moines, sow outdoors from March 7 to March 21. Across Iowa the window opens between March 4 and March 18, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before 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

Peas in other states

Frost dates for every city in Iowa