When Can You Turn the Heat Off in Iowa?
September is the answer, but only in a limited sense: it’s the month Iowa homes ask the least of their heating and cooling systems, not a month when…
Gardening in Iowa
Everything we have worked out for Iowa: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Des Moines, the last spring freeze runs April 12 to April 24 and the first fall freeze runs October 14 to October 25, USDA zones 4b-6a, 3,659 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 21.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Iowa: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Will Sweet Corn Ripen in Iowa?
Yes. Sweet corn ripens across Iowa in a typical season, and the margin isn’t even close.
When to Sow Sweet Corn in Iowa
Sweet corn seed goes into Iowa ground once the soil holds steady above 60°F, and that day lands well after the last frost, typically sometime in May…
When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Iowa
In central Iowa, spring spinach goes into the ground from late March through the first days of April, two to three weeks ahead of the April 12-24…
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Iowa?
Yes, spinach will bolt early in Iowa, and it isn’t really the state’s muggy summers that force the issue.
Will Iowa Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Yes, in most cases. The dominant soil across Iowa is well drained by USDA’s own classification, and that’s the single soil requirement an asparagus bed…
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Iowa
Plant asparagus crowns around early spring in Iowa, timed to land near the last spring frost window of April 12 to April 24.
Growing Sweet Corn in Iowa: Will It Ripen?
Iowa’s growing season is long enough for sweet corn to ripen almost anywhere in the state, but the calendar math only works if you plant by soil…
Growing Asparagus in Iowa: Fifteen Years in One Spot
Yes, Iowa can host a productive asparagus bed for a decade and a half, and the state’s own soil profile helps explain why.
When to Sow Pumpkins in Iowa
Iowa’s pumpkin calendar starts with soil temperature, not a date on the wall.