When to plant tomatoes in Iowa

Tomatoes
Plant out in Des Moines
Apr 25–May 9

Across Iowa the window opens between April 22 and May 6. 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 25–May 9
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 13
Last frost, Des Moines
Apr 18

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Des MoinesApr 25–May 9
Cedar RapidsMay 4–May 18
DavenportApr 26–May 10
Sioux CityMay 6–May 20
AnkenyApr 30–May 14
Iowa CityApr 28–May 12
West Des MoinesApr 25–May 9
AmesMay 3–May 17
WaterlooMay 4–May 18
Council BluffsApr 25–May 9
DubuqueApr 26–May 10
UrbandaleApr 26–May 10
MarionMay 5–May 19
Cedar FallsMay 4–May 18
BettendorfApr 23–May 7
WaukeeApr 25–May 9
MarshalltownMay 5–May 19
Mason CityMay 6–May 20
OttumwaApr 30–May 14
JohnstonApr 26–May 10
Fort DodgeMay 5–May 19
ClintonApr 29–May 13
CoralvilleApr 28–May 12
BurlingtonApr 22–May 6
MuscatineMay 1–May 15
AltoonaApr 30–May 14
North LibertyApr 28–May 12

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Iowa?

In Des Moines, plant out from April 25 to May 9. Across Iowa the window opens between April 22 and May 6, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Iowa

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Iowa