When to plant Tomatoes in Iowa

In spring, from Apr 20 – June 1 in Burlington to May 10 – June 15 in Waverly.

In fall, June 1 – 20.

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

Tomatoes planting dates by place in Iowa
PlaceSpringFall
AltoonaMay 5 – June 10June 1 – 20
AmesMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
AnkenyMay 5 – June 10June 1 – 20
BettendorfMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
BooneMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
BurlingtonApr 20 – June 1June 1 – July 1
CarrollMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
Cedar FallsMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
Cedar RapidsMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
ClintonMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
CliveMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
CoralvilleMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Council BluffsMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
DavenportMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Des MoinesMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
DubuqueMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Fort DodgeMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
GrimesMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
IndianolaMay 5 – June 10June 1 – 20
Iowa CityMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
JohnstonMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Le MarsMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
MarionMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
MarshalltownMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
Mason CityMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
MuscatineMay 5 – June 10June 1 – 20
NewtonMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
North LibertyMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
NorwalkMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
OskaloosaMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
OttumwaMay 5 – June 10June 1 – 20
PellaMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Pleasant HillMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
Sioux CityMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
SpencerMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
Storm LakeMay 5 – June 10June 1 – 20
UrbandaleMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
WaterlooMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
WaukeeMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 1
WaverlyMay 10 – June 15June 1 – 20
West Des MoinesMay 5 – June 10June 1 – July 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 tomatoes.