Last frost date in Fort Dodge, Iowa
April 28
Average last frost in spring. In an early year (1 in 10) it's over by April 13; in a late year (1 in 10) it comes after May 9.
October 8
Average first frost in fall. 1 year in 10 it comes by September 24.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Ft Dodge 5NNW (USC00132999), 5.3 miles from Fort Dodge, elevation 1,115 ft. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
| Early year | Average | Late year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last frost in spring | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | May 9 |
| First frost in fall | Sept 24 | Oct 8 | Oct 22 |
An early or late year is one in 10: 1 year in 10 the frost comes before the early date, and 1 year in 10 after the late date.
Frost-free days in an average year: 162
Planting calendar for Fort Dodge
Fall planting
USDA dates for places whose average first freeze is about October 10 (Fort Dodge: October 8).
- Eggplant plantsMay 15 – June 15 (past for this year)
- PotatoesMay 15 – June 15 (past for this year)
- Sweet potatoesMay 20 – June 10 (past for this year)
- Black-eyed peasJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Cabbage plantsJune 1 – July 15 (past for this year)
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)June 1 – 15 (past for this year)
- CarrotsJune 1 – July 20 (past for this year)
- Cauliflower plantsJune 1 – July 25 (past for this year)
- Celery and celeriac plantsJune 1 – July 15 (past for this year)
- CucumbersJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Lima beansJune 1 – 15 (past for this year)
- New Zealand spinachJune 1 – July 15 (past for this year)
- OkraJune 1 – July 15 (past for this year)
- ParsnipsJune 1 – July 10 (past for this year)
- Peppers plantsJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- SalsifyJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- SoybeansJune 1 – 25 (past for this year)
- Summer squashJune 1 – July 15 (past for this year)
- Sweet cornJune 1 – July 10 (past for this year)
- Swiss chardJune 1 – July 20 (past for this year)
- TomatoesJune 1 – 20 (past for this year)
- WatermelonJune 1 – 15 (past for this year)
- Winter squashJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Witloof chicoryJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- BeetsJune 15 – July 25 (past for this year)
- Broccoli plantsJune 15 – July 15 (past for this year)
- Brussels sprouts plantsJune 15 – July 15 (past for this year)
- Chinese cabbageJune 15 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Florence fennelJune 15 – July 15 (past for this year)
- ParsleyJune 15 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- RutabagaJune 15 – July 15 (past for this year)
- Snap beansJune 15 – July 20 (past for this year)
- Collards plantsJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- EndiveJuly 1 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- KaleJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- KohlrabiJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- SorrelJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- TurnipsJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- DandelionJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Head lettuce plantsJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Leaf lettuceJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Mustard greensJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- RadishesJuly 15 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- SpinachAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Corn saladAug 15 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Upland cressAug 15 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Rhubarb plantsOct 15 – Nov 15Now
- Asparagus plantsOct 20 – Nov 15Now
USDA lists chervil and chives, garlic, horseradish, leeks, onion plants, onion seed, onion sets, garden peas, shallots as generally spring-planted here.
Spring planting
USDA dates for places whose average last freeze is about April 30 (Fort Dodge: April 28).
- Corn saladMar 1 – May 1
- Onion setsMar 10 – Apr 10
- Cabbage plantsMar 15 – Apr 10
- GarlicMar 15 – Apr 15
- Onion seedMar 15 – Apr 15
- Asparagus plantsMar 20 – Apr 15
- Chervil and chivesMar 20 – Apr 20
- DandelionMar 20 – Apr 20
- Garden peasMar 20 – May 1
- PotatoesMar 20 – May 10
- RadishesMar 20 – May 10
- Rhubarb plantsMar 20 – Apr 15
- SpinachMar 20 – Apr 20
- TurnipsMar 20 – May 1
- BeetsApr 1 – June 15
- Broccoli plantsApr 1 – May 1
- Brussels sprouts plantsApr 1 – May 1
- Collards plantsApr 1 – June 1
- EndiveApr 1 – May 1
- Florence fennelApr 1 – May 1
- Head lettuce plantsApr 1 – May 1
- Horseradish plantsApr 1 – 30
- KaleApr 1 – 20
- KohlrabiApr 1 – May 10
- Leaf lettuceApr 1 – June 1
- LeeksApr 1 – May 1
- Mustard greensApr 1 – May 10
- Onion plants plantsApr 1 – May 1
- ParsleyApr 1 – May 1
- ParsnipsApr 1 – May 1
- SalsifyApr 1 – May 15
- ShallotsApr 1 – May 1
- SorrelApr 1 – May 15
- CarrotsApr 10 – June 1
- Cauliflower plantsApr 10 – May 10
- Upland cressApr 10 – May 10
- Celery and celeriac plantsApr 15 – May 1
- Swiss chardApr 15 – June 15
- New Zealand spinachMay 1 – June 15
- RutabagaMay 1 – June 1
- Summer squashMay 1 – 30
- OkraMay 10 – June 1
- Snap beansMay 10 – June 30
- Sweet cornMay 10 – June 15
- TomatoesMay 10 – June 15
- Black-eyed peasMay 15 – June 1
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)May 15 – June 15
- CucumbersMay 15 – June 15
- Eggplant plantsMay 15 – June 10
- Lima beansMay 15 – June 15
- Peppers plantsMay 15 – June 10
- SoybeansMay 15 – June 15
- WatermelonMay 15 – June 15
- Sweet potatoesMay 20 – June 10
- Witloof chicoryJune 15 – July 1
USDA lists chinese cabbage as generally fall-planted here.
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5 (earliest safe spring and latest safe fall dates), applied to this place's NOAA frost dates. “Plants” means setting out transplants, not sowing seed. How we match the table.
Nearby in Iowa
- Boone 35 mi · last frost Apr 28
- Ames 44 mi · last frost Apr 26
- Carroll 47 mi · last frost Apr 27
- Storm Lake 53 mi · last frost Apr 25
- Grimes 61 mi · last frost Apr 19