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Last and first frost dates in Des Moines

United States

In Des Moines the last spring frost usually comes around 19 April and the first autumn frost around 27 October, which leaves about 191 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 30 April to 7 July.

Last spring frostaround 19 April
First autumn frostaround 27 October
Frost-free days191 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 5b

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Des Moines?

The last frost in Des Moines usually comes around 19 April: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 29 March, while corn waits until 26 April. The first autumn frost follows around 27 October, about 191 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha24 February – 19 July5 April – 28 August26 April – 28 August
Ageratumfrom 12 February—from 30 April
Arugula——sow 29 March – 22 September
Basil19 March – 25 August26 April – 2 October17 May – 2 October
Beet——sow 29 March – 28 August
Bell Pepper25 February – 8 May26 April – 7 July17 May – 7 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 2 February—from 26 April
Bok Choy1 March – 5 September5 April – 10 October26 April – 10 October
Borage——sow 26 April – 2 September
Broad bean——sow 29 March – 19 July
Broccoli——sow 29 March – 12 July
Brussels Sprouts22 January – 9 June8 March – 24 July29 March – 24 July
Busy Lizziefrom 1 February—from 26 April
Cabbage——sow 29 March – 19 June
Calendula——sow from 29 March
Carrot——sow 29 March – 4 August
Cauliflower25 January – 12 July8 March – 23 August29 March – 23 August
Celeriac18 January – 9 May5 April – 25 July26 April – 25 July
Celery18 January – 19 May5 April – 4 August26 April – 4 August
Celosiafrom 6 Marchfrom 20 Aprilfrom 11 May
Chamomile——sow 29 March – 23 August
Chayote7 January – 2 May5 April – 29 July26 April – 29 July
Chickpea——sow 29 March – 9 July
Chicory11 February – 3 August—29 March – 28 August
Chili Pepper25 February – 14 June26 April – 13 August17 May – 13 August
China asterfrom 5 Marchfrom 26 Aprilfrom 17 May
Chives——sow 29 March – 14 August
Cilantro——sow 29 March – 24 August
Corn——sow 26 April – 9 July
Corn poppy——sow from 29 March
Cosmosfrom 6 Marchfrom 20 Aprilfrom 11 May
Cucumber29 March – 15 July26 April – 12 August17 May – 12 August
Daikon——sow 29 March – 21 August
Delphiniumfrom 8 January—from 29 March
Dill——sow 29 March – 3 September
Edging lobeliafrom 1 February—from 26 April
Eggplant25 February – 8 May26 April – 7 July17 May – 7 July
Florence fennel19 February – 19 July5 April – 2 September26 April – 2 September
Foxglovefrom 21 December—from 29 March
Garden sorrel——sow 29 March – 22 August
Green Beans——sow 11 May – 17 July
Hollyhock——sow from 29 March
Hyssop——sow 29 March – 15 July
Kale——sow 29 March – 16 August
Kiwano8 March – 22 July9 April – 23 August30 April – 23 August
Kohlrabi——sow 29 March – 26 August
Leek28 December – 30 April8 March – 9 July29 March – 9 July
Lemon balm——sow 29 March – 18 August
Lettuce——sow 29 March – 31 August
Lisianthusfrom 11 Decemberfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Lovage——sow from 29 March
Luffa15 March – 16 May26 April – 27 June17 May – 27 June
Marigoldfrom 22 Februaryfrom 5 Aprilfrom 26 April
Marjoram25 February – 3 August—17 May – 2 October
Melon29 March – 2 July26 April – 30 July17 May – 30 July
Microgreens——sow 11 May – 13 October
Moringa10 March – 8 August4 May – 2 October25 May – 2 October
Moss rosefrom 8 February—from 26 April
Mustard greens——sow 29 March – 12 September
Napa cabbage3 March – 13 August5 April – 15 September26 April – 15 September
Nasturtiumfrom 26 Februaryfrom 5 Aprilfrom 26 April
Okra15 March – 27 July26 April – 7 September17 May – 7 September
Oregano7 January – 24 July8 March – 22 September29 March – 22 September
Pansyfrom 11 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Parsley——sow 29 March – 12 August
Parsnip——sow 29 March – 1 July
Peanut20 March – 22 June26 April – 29 July17 May – 29 July
Peas——sow 29 March – 14 August
Petuniafrom 22 Februaryfrom 26 Aprilfrom 17 May
Physalis23 February – 19 June9 April – 3 August30 April – 3 August
Pumpkin15 March – 21 May26 April – 2 July17 May – 2 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 5 January—from 29 March
Radish——sow 29 March – 27 September
Sage18 January – 20 July8 March – 7 September29 March – 7 September
Scarlet sagefrom 16 February—from 30 April
Snapdragonfrom 2 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Soybean——sow 17 May – 8 August
Spinach——sow 29 March – 2 September
Stevia19 February – 10 June9 April – 29 July30 April – 29 July
Stock——sow from 29 March
Sunflower——sow from 11 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 29 March
Sweet Corn14 March – 3 August5 April – 25 August26 April – 25 August
Sweet peafrom 25 Januaryfrom 8 Marchfrom 29 March
Sweet William——sow from 29 March
Swiss Chard——sow 29 March – 28 August
Thyme——sow 29 March – 9 July
Tomato16 February – 16 May9 April – 7 July30 April – 7 July
Turnip——sow 29 March – 30 August
Watercress——sow 29 March – 10 September
Watermelon29 March – 20 June26 April – 18 July17 May – 18 July
Zinniafrom 30 Marchfrom 4 Mayfrom 25 May
Zucchini5 April – 20 July26 April – 10 August17 May – 10 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

What planting zone is Des Moines?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Des Moines (ZIP 50319) in zone 5b. Zone 5b stands for an average coldest night of -15 to -10 °F (-26.1 to -23.3 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 5b or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Des Moines: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Des Moines

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 9 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 11 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C12 March38 days earlier
10 °C10 April9 days earlier
15 °C30 April11 days later
18 °C17 May28 days later

Frost dates near Des Moines

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Kansas City (7 April) and latest in Cedar Rapids (22 April).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Cedar Rapids165 km22 April25 October
Omaha198 km16 April26 October
Davenport250 km20 April30 October
Lincoln271 km16 April28 October
Kansas City290 km7 April1 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Des Moines

Within 15 km of Des Moines OpenStreetMap lists 7 garden centres (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Plant Junction, 9 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Des Moines

Frosts in Des Moines usually come from about 27 October to about 19 April. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Des Moines by month

Average weather in Des Moines over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (22.6–30 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (30 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in January (-9.4 °C), February (-7.7 °C) and December (-4.9 °C). About 929 mm of rain falls in a year, on 107 days; May is the wettest month (125 mm) and February the driest (31 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January-0.4-9.4397
February2.9-7.7316
March11.20.48010
April16.65.28811
May22.611.812513
June2918.312211
July30209210
August28.918.98610
September26.416.1848
October18.58.6949
November10.30.9496
December3.9-4.9396

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 27 September
Crocus27 September – 29 November
Daffodil27 September – 29 November
Garlic27 September – 29 November
Grape hyacinthby 27 September
Helleboreby 27 September
Hyacinth27 September – 29 November
Lilyby 27 September
Ornamental onionby 27 September
Peonyby 27 September
Saffronby 27 September
Snowdropby 27 September
Tulip27 September – 29 November
Wild garlicby 27 September

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).