State agricultural overview

Iowa crop calendar.

Zone 5a
Range 4b to 5b
155-day season
Last frost May 5
First frost October 5

16 primary crops with planting windows for Iowa. Calendar timing is anchored to 5a dominant hardiness zone and a 155-day growing season — verify against Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for variety- and county-specific guidance.

Row Crop · Iowa

Corn
primary
Spring: May 5 – May 26
Soybeans
primary
Spring: May 19 – June 9
Sunflowers
primary
Spring: May 12 – June 9
Winter Wheat
primary
Fall: September 28 – October 19
Grain Sorghum
secondary
Spring: May 26 – June 23
Cotton
trial
Spring: May 19 – June 9

Vegetables · Iowa

Cucumbers
primary
Spring: May 19 – June 23
Peppers
primary
Spring: May 26 – June 16
Potatoes
primary
Spring: April 21 – May 12
Fall: July 22 – August 6
Pumpkins
primary
Spring: May 26 – June 23
Sweet Corn
primary
Spring: May 5 – June 9
Tomatoes
primary
Spring: May 19 – June 9

Forages · Iowa

Alfalfa
primary
Spring: April 28 – May 26
Fall: August 6 – August 21
Clover
primary
Spring: April 14 – May 12
Fall: August 6 – August 21

Cover Crops · Iowa

Brassicas
primary
Fall: July 22 – August 6
Buckwheat
primary
Spring: June 30 – July 28
Cereal Oats
primary
Spring: April 28 – May 26
Fall: August 6 – August 21
Winter Rye
primary
Fall: September 28 – October 19

Frost & extension reference

Iowa climate anchors.

Last frost

May 5

First frost

October 5

Growing season

155 days

Hardiness zone

Iowa county-level frost dates →Iowa State University Extension and Outreach →

Iowa planting timing. Live alerts.

Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.

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