When to plant Garlic in Iowa
In spring, from Feb 20 – Mar 20 in Burlington to Mar 15 – Apr 15 in Waverly.
In fall: USDA's 1967 table lists garlic as generally spring-planted in every place here. Newer advice from your state's extension service may differ.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring |
|---|---|
| Altoona | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Ames | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Ankeny | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Bettendorf | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Boone | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Burlington | Feb 20 – Mar 20 |
| Carroll | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Cedar Falls | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Cedar Rapids | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Clinton | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Clive | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Coralville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Council Bluffs | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Davenport | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Des Moines | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Dubuque | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Fort Dodge | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Grimes | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Indianola | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Iowa City | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Johnston | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Le Mars | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Marion | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Marshalltown | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Mason City | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Muscatine | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Newton | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| North Liberty | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Norwalk | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Oskaloosa | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Ottumwa | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Pella | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Pleasant Hill | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Sioux City | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Spencer | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Storm Lake | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Urbandale | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Waterloo | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| Waukee | Mar 10 – Apr 1 |
| Waverly | Mar 15 – Apr 15 |
| West Des Moines | Mar 10 – Apr 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 garlic.