When to plant Sweet potatoes in Iowa

In spring, from May 1 – June 1 in Burlington to May 20 – June 10 in Waverly.

In fall, from May 20 – June 10 in Altoona to June 1 – 15 in West Des Moines.

USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.

Sweet potatoes planting dates by place in Iowa
PlaceSpringFall
AltoonaMay 10 – June 10May 20 – June 10
AmesMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
AnkenyMay 10 – June 10May 20 – June 10
BettendorfMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
BooneMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
BurlingtonMay 1 – June 1June 1 – 15
CarrollMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
Cedar FallsMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
Cedar RapidsMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
ClintonMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
CliveMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
CoralvilleMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
Council BluffsMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
DavenportMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
Des MoinesMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
DubuqueMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
Fort DodgeMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
GrimesMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
IndianolaMay 10 – June 10May 20 – June 10
Iowa CityMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
JohnstonMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
Le MarsMay 20 – June 10Not listed
MarionMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
MarshalltownMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
Mason CityMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
MuscatineMay 10 – June 10May 20 – June 10
NewtonMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
North LibertyMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
NorwalkMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
OskaloosaMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
OttumwaMay 10 – June 10May 20 – June 10
PellaMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
Pleasant HillMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
Sioux CityMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
SpencerMay 20 – June 10Not listed
Storm LakeMay 10 – June 10May 20 – June 10
UrbandaleMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
WaterlooMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
WaukeeMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15
WaverlyMay 20 – June 10May 20 – June 10
West Des MoinesMay 10 – June 10June 1 – 15

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 sweet potatoes.