Planting windows for Des Moines 17 E
Computed from Des Moines 17 E's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-5 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Transplant | Direct sow |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍅 Tomatoes | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | Apr 28 – May 5 | — |
| 🫑 Peppers | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | May 5 – May 12 | — |
| 🥬 Lettuce | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | Mar 24 – Apr 21 |
| 🫛 Peas | — | — | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| 🥕 Carrots | — | — | Mar 31 – Apr 21 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Mar 3 – Mar 17 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — |
| 🥬 Kale | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 |
| 🥒 Cucumbers | Mar 24 – Mar 31 | Apr 28 – May 5 | Apr 28 – May 5 |
| 🥒 Zucchini | Mar 24 – Mar 31 | Apr 28 – May 5 | Apr 28 – May 5 |
| 🫘 Green Beans (Bush) | — | — | Apr 28 – May 5 |
| 🌽 Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 28 – May 5 |
| 🌿 Basil | Mar 10 – Mar 24 | Apr 28 – May 5 | May 5 – May 12 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | — | Fall: Sep 3 – Oct 1 |
Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Des Moines 17 E's dates automatically after a lookup.
Reading the season in Des Moines 17 E
Roughly 177 frost-free days gives Des Moines 17 E gardeners room for nearly every common vegetable. Warm-season crops go out after Apr 21; a fall garden sown in late summer matures comfortably before the Oct 15 frost.