When to plant Lettuce in Iowa
In spring, from Mar 15 – May 15 in Burlington to Apr 1 – June 1 in Waverly.
In fall, from June 1 – Aug 1 in Le Mars to July 15 – Sept 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 | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Ames | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Ankeny | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Bettendorf | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Boone | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Burlington | Mar 15 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Carroll | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Cedar Falls | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Cedar Rapids | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Clinton | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Clive | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Coralville | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Council Bluffs | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Davenport | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Des Moines | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Dubuque | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Fort Dodge | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Grimes | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Indianola | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Iowa City | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Johnston | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Le Mars | Apr 1 – June 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Marion | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Marshalltown | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Mason City | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Muscatine | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Newton | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| North Liberty | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Norwalk | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Oskaloosa | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Ottumwa | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Pella | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Pleasant Hill | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Sioux City | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Spencer | Apr 1 – June 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Storm Lake | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Urbandale | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Waterloo | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Waukee | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| Waverly | Apr 1 – June 1 | July 15 – Sept 1 |
| West Des Moines | Mar 20 – May 15 | July 15 – Sept 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 leaf lettuce.