When to plant Asparagus in Iowa

In spring, from Mar 10 – Apr 10 in Burlington to Mar 20 – Apr 15 in Waverly.

In fall, from Oct 20 – Nov 15 in Altoona to Nov 1 – Dec 15 in West Des Moines.

Dates are for setting out plants. USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.

Asparagus planting dates by place in Iowa
PlaceSpringFall
AltoonaMar 15 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
AmesMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
AnkenyMar 15 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
BettendorfMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
BooneMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
BurlingtonMar 10 – Apr 10Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
CarrollMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
Cedar FallsMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
Cedar RapidsMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
ClintonMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
CliveMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
CoralvilleMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
Council BluffsMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
DavenportMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
Des MoinesMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
DubuqueMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
Fort DodgeMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
GrimesMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
IndianolaMar 15 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
Iowa CityMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
JohnstonMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
Le MarsMar 20 – Apr 15Not listed
MarionMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
MarshalltownMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
Mason CityMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
MuscatineMar 15 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
NewtonMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
North LibertyMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
NorwalkMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
OskaloosaMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
OttumwaMar 15 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
PellaMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
Pleasant HillMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
Sioux CityMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
SpencerMar 20 – Apr 15Not listed
Storm LakeMar 15 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
UrbandaleMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
WaterlooMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
WaukeeMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon
WaverlyMar 20 – Apr 15Oct 20 – Nov 15Now
West Des MoinesMar 15 – Apr 15Nov 1 – Dec 15Soon

Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means the place's frost date is outside the table. The full USDA table for asparagus.