When to plant Turnips in Iowa
In spring, from Mar 1 – Apr 1 in Burlington to Mar 20 – May 1 in Waverly.
For a fall crop, from June 1 – Aug 1 in Le Mars to July 15 – Aug 15 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 10 – Apr 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Ames | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Ankeny | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Bettendorf | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Boone | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Burlington | Mar 1 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Carroll | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Cedar Falls | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Cedar Rapids | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Clinton | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Clive | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Coralville | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Council Bluffs | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Davenport | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Des Moines | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Dubuque | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Fort Dodge | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Grimes | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Indianola | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Iowa City | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Johnston | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Le Mars | Mar 20 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Marion | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Marshalltown | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Mason City | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Muscatine | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Newton | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| North Liberty | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Norwalk | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Oskaloosa | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Ottumwa | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Pella | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Pleasant Hill | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Sioux City | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Spencer | Mar 20 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Storm Lake | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Urbandale | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Waterloo | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| Waukee | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
| Waverly | Mar 20 – May 1 | July 1 – Aug 1 |
| West Des Moines | Mar 10 – Apr 1 | July 15 – Aug 15 |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. The full USDA table for turnips.