When to plant Carrots in Iowa
In spring, from Mar 10 – Apr 20 in Burlington to Apr 10 – June 1 in Waverly.
In fall, from June 1 – July 20 in Altoona to June 15 – Aug 1 in West Des Moines.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Altoona | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Ames | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Ankeny | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Bettendorf | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Boone | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Burlington | Mar 10 – Apr 20 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Carroll | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Cedar Falls | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Cedar Rapids | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Clinton | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Clive | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Coralville | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Council Bluffs | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Davenport | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Des Moines | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Dubuque | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Fort Dodge | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Grimes | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Indianola | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Iowa City | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Johnston | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Le Mars | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 10 |
| Marion | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Marshalltown | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Mason City | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Muscatine | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Newton | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| North Liberty | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Norwalk | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Oskaloosa | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Ottumwa | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Pella | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Pleasant Hill | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Sioux City | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Spencer | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 10 |
| Storm Lake | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Urbandale | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Waterloo | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| Waukee | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
| Waverly | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 20 |
| West Des Moines | Apr 1 – May 15 | June 15 – Aug 1 |
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 carrots.