Gardening in Iowa - What to Plant in Spring & Fall

Having a productive garden in Iowa is easy to accomplish so long as you have the right plan. Below we’ll walk you through which plants thrive in Iowa, when to plant in Iowa, and how to adapt your garden as the seasons change.

Understanding Iowa Hardiness Zones

Hardiness zones, sometimes referred to as “growing zones” or “planting zones”, were created by the USDA to help gardeners determine which plants are best suited for a particular location.

Iowa encompasses 3 hardiness zones. They are zones 4, 5 and 6. Before we get started, determine which zone you live in by visiting this interactive USDA hardiness zone map.

At their core, hardiness zones only represent how cold a particular area gets in winter. This information, combined with the average frost dates for your area, is the key to planting the right herbs and vegetables in Iowa.

Below, we’ll guide you through the best crops to grow in your zone in Iowa and when to plant them.

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Spring Gardening in Iowa

Zone 6

During the spring in Iowa zone 6, try planting short season produce in March that prefer cold weather, such as collard greens, broccolini, and iceberg lettuce.

These crops will feel much more comfortable in the moderate temperatures of spring, as opposed to the intensity of an Iowa summer. And their short growing period means once temperatures begin to rise, they’ll be ready to harvest and replaced with plants more adapt to the Iowa heat.

Classic home garden produce, such as sweet peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and anaheim peppers are great options for mid-to-late spring planting.

For warm weather crops such as these, start seedlings indoors in March. In April and May, once temperatures at night are consistently above 50 degrees, transplant established plants to the garden.

Zones 4 and 5

In Iowa growing zones 4 and 5, spring is considerably cold compared to most other areas. As a result, the viable growing season in these locations is fairly short.

To get the most out of your garden in Iowa zones 4 and 5, seedlings should to be started indoors. We also recommend using a blanket of straw to help protect transplants from a surprise frost.

With so much of the growing season experiencing cooler temperatures, focusing on frost tolerant crops is a great strategy for success. Vegetables such as green peas, kale, carrots, and radishes can usually be planted in late April or May for zones 4 and 5. Cool weather crops that have a bit longer growing period, such as Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and artichokes, are another great option for the colder areas of Iowa.

But at the end of the day, for most common garden vegetables in Iowa zones 4 and 5, planting will have to wait until things warm up in June.

Fall Gardening in Iowa

Zone 6

Want to keep gardening in Iowa zone 6 even as the weather cools? You might be surprised by your options!

Fall crops for Iowa zone 6 are typically planted around July and August. This should give the plant enough time to establish itself before cold weather begins to set in. Think cold-loving crops such as broccolini, cabbage, and onions. Hardy root vegetables and durable leafy greens are great options, especially if you’re looking for something to plant in September or early October.

Zones 4 and 5

For Iowa growing zones 4 and 5, fall gardening is a race against the cold. Likely, you’ll want to plant short season fall crops during July or August, to ensure ample harvest time before the season’s first frost hits.

Cold hardy produce are the most viable fall crops for Iowa growing zones 4 and 5. Some of our favorites for Iowa are romaine lettuce, carrots, radishes, and broccoli. Not only can these type of plants withstand a bit of cold, but they’ll be great roasted or thrown in soups and stews during the Iowa winter months.

You can also extend the life of your fall garden in Iowa zones 4 and 5 by using methods such as hotbeds, covering plants with a plastic sheet at night, or “overwintering” perennials such as tomatoes and peppers.

Still not sure what to plant in Iowa?

See our full list of growing guides for cold weather vegetables and warm weather vegetables for more inspiration.