When to plant Peppers in Iowa

In spring, from May 1 – June 1 in Burlington to May 15 – June 10 in Waverly.

In fall, June 1 – July 1.

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.

Peppers planting dates by place in Iowa
PlaceSpringFall
AltoonaMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 1
AmesMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
AnkenyMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 1
BettendorfMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
BooneMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
BurlingtonMay 1 – June 1June 1 – July 10
CarrollMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Cedar FallsMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Cedar RapidsMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
ClintonMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
CliveMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
CoralvilleMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
Council BluffsMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
DavenportMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
Des MoinesMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
DubuqueMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
Fort DodgeMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
GrimesMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
IndianolaMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 1
Iowa CityMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
JohnstonMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
Le MarsMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
MarionMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
MarshalltownMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Mason CityMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
MuscatineMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 1
NewtonMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
North LibertyMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
NorwalkMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
OskaloosaMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
OttumwaMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 1
PellaMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
Pleasant HillMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
Sioux CityMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
SpencerMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Storm LakeMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 1
UrbandaleMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
WaterlooMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
WaukeeMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10
WaverlyMay 15 – June 10June 1 – July 1
West Des MoinesMay 10 – June 1June 1 – July 10

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 peppers.