Bield:Farm
State agricultural overview

Iowa crop calendar.

Zone 5aRange 4b to 5b155-day seasonLast frost May 5First 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

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-date reference — Iowa

Last frost (spring)
May 5
First frost (fall)
October 5
Growing season
155 days
Hardiness zone
5a

Frost dates are NOAA / NCDC climate normals — county-level variation can shift these by 2–4 weeks. The Iowa extension service publishes county-specific frost data: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Iowa soil-temp alerts.

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

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