• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Explore Des Moines
    • Winter in Des Moines
    • Our 10+ Favorite Des Moines Parks
    • Nature Areas and Parks in Des Moines
    • Des Moines Bike Trails Guide
    • Principal Riverwalk
    • Best Hiking Trails in Des Moines
  • Camping & Cabins
    • Best Fall Camping Near Des Moines
    • Camping Checklist [+ PDF]
    • Camping With Kids
    • Ultimate List of RV Essentials
    • Easy Camping Food Ideas
    • Iowa State Parks With Cabins
    • Des Moines Campground Guide
    • A Guide to Des Moines RV Parks
    • Cabin Rentals Near Des Moines
  • About
  • Contact Us
Des Moines Outdoors

Des Moines Outdoors

When To Start Seeds Indoors in Iowa: Get a Head Start on Spring

DSMOutdoors

This article contains affiliate links. In other words, if you click on an affiliate link and buy a product, this blog may receive compensation at no cost to you. See our full disclosure here.

start seeds
Image by J Garget

This year, get a head start on gardening by starting seeds indoors during the winter! Not only will you get a jump start on the growing season, but you’ll save money too! The good news is it’s easy to start seeds indoors. But don’t know what to start and when? We’re here to help! Here’s our guide for when to start seeds indoors in Iowa (and how to do it).

Table of Contents

  • Iowa planting (hardiness) zones
  • When to start seeds indoors in Iowa
    • What seeds to start indoors and when
    • Seeds to start outdoors in Iowa
  • What you need to start garden seeds indoors
    • Hardening off your seedlings
    • Iowa gardening resources

Iowa planting (hardiness) zones

Before starting seeds, the first thing to know is your hardiness zone (e.g., planting zone). Most of Iowa is Zone 5, but some northern parts are in Zone 4.

Central Iowa is in zones 5a and 5b, depending on the exact location. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map can help you find your zone.

USDA Hardiness Zone Map
Credit: USDA

When to start seeds indoors in Iowa

When to start seeds depends on your zone, types of plants, and when you will transplant the seedlings. 

In Iowa, most seeds can be started in mid-late February and transplanted into the garden in May (the rule of thumb is after Mother’s Day). But, it depends on the type of plant. 

Winter Sowing Seeds: List of best seeds to winter sow and how to do it

What seeds to start indoors and when

Some seedlings tolerate transplanting. But others should be sown in the garden after the threat of frost has passed. (In Des Moines, the average last day of frost is April 25.)

Here, we only start seeds we know transplant well and need a longer growing season. So, for example, we start peppers, tomatoes, and some herbs. Other contenders include eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. 

Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants get started about 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, so late February and March. Everything else gets planted in the garden in April and early May.

According to Almanac.com, here’s when to start some seeds and transplant them.

PlantWhen to startWhen to transplant
BasilFeb 25 – March 11April 23 – May 14
Bell PeppersFeb 11-25April 30 – May 14
BroccoliFeb 25 – March 11March 26 – April 16
CabbageFeb 25 – March 11March 26 – April 9
CauliflowerFeb 25 – March 11March 26 – April 16
CeleryFeb 11-25April 30 – May 14
EggplantsFeb 11-25May 7-15
KaleFeb 25 – March 11March 26 – April 16
KohlrabiMarch 11-26April 2-9
OreganoFeb 11 – March 11April 23 – May 14
RosemaryFeb 11-25April 30 – May 21
SageFeb 25 – March 11April 23 – May 7
Sweet PotatoesMarch 26 – April 2May 7-21
Swiss ChardMarch 11-26April 2-9
ThymeFeb 11- March 11April 23 – May 14
TomatoesFeb 25 – March 11April 30 – May 21

You can start squash, watermelons, and cantaloupe seeds, but they don’t always like to get moved to the garden. In our experience, they do best when sown in the garden. But we’re not experts either, so definitely experiment to see what works for you!

Seeds to start outdoors in Iowa

As mentioned earlier, our growing season isn’t long enough to start all garden seeds outdoors. For example, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants need to start early to produce in July and August. And some of the cool weather varieties, like broccoli and cauliflower, do well when they have a jump start.

But, from our experience, many other seeds do best when sown in the garden. So, around here, we start many seeds outdoors.

Here are seeds to start outdoors:

  • Arugula
  • Beets
  • Cantaloupe
  • Carrots
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Corn
  • Cucumbers
  • Dill
  • Green Beans
  • Lettuce
  • Okra
  • Onions
  • Parsley
  • Parsnips
  • Peas
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkins
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Turnips
  • Watermelon
  • Zucchini

What you need to start garden seeds indoors

You can invest in seed starting kits*, towers*, and more for starting seeds indoors. But it doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t need special equipment. We take a straightforward, frugal approach to seed starting.

Seed starting mix

Use a sterile seed starting mix or another soilless mix. Regular soil can limit drainage and promote mold.

Pots/planters

We clean and reuse pots and save yogurt containers for starting seeds. You can also make paper pots and start seeds in box flats and even egg cartons. Just make sure your containers have drainage.

Warmth

Seeds germinate best when between 70-80°F. We place them near a heating vent, but you can also buy waterproof heating mats* to aid germination. Also, put plastic over them to create a mini-greenhouse until most seeds germinate. Once they begin growing, they no longer need as much warmth, and any plastic should get removed.

Light

Once the seeds germinate, they need plenty of light to grow and thrive. Placing them near a window with direct sunlight works for a while. But once they get the first set of true leaves, they do best with a source of supplemental, artificial light. We use a $30 grow light* purchased online, and fluorescent shop lights work too.

Water

Before the seedlings germinate, the soil should stay moist. After that, check the seedlings often and water them when they dry out.

Hardening off your seedlings

We get much (much!) better results when we harden off seedlings before transplanting. Hardening off makes plants more robust and healthy. And it helps them transplant more readily.

After the seeds are a few inches tall, we place a fan a few feet away and turn it on for a couple of hours a day to help them get stronger.

And to harden them off, we put them outdoors each day a few days before transplanting them. Start with short amounts of time, and gradually leave them outside longer and longer. It helps them acclimate to the direct sunlight and outdoor elements.

If you live in Iowa, start some garden seeds indoors this year! What better way to beat the winter blahs than to get ready for spring?

Iowa gardening resources

  • Iowa State Extention Gardening Resources
  • Gardening in Iowa and Surrounding Areas*
  • The Iowa Gardener
  • Midwest Fruit and Vegetable Gardening*
  • Gardening in the Midwest | Better Homes & Gardens

*Amazon affiliate link

Photo credit: Pixabay

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
PinterestSave

Filed Under: Gardening & Conservation

Primary Sidebar

About Des Moines Outdoors

Des Moines Outdoors is a site dedicated to helping you find the best of everything outdoors in the state of Iowa. We’re native Iowans that, for over 25 years, camped, hiked, biked, and explored our home state. We encourage you to do the same.

There’s so much more to see and do in Iowa than many people imagine! Our goal is to help visitors and residents alike experience the best of our beautiful state.

Search

More Outdoor Fun in Iowa

Sign up for our seasonal newsletter on the best things to do and places to see!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    No spam, just four newsletters each year.

    Built with ConvertKit
    Winter scavenger hunt printables
    outdoor gift guides
    Rv Essentials

    Recent Articles

    • Car Camping Essentials: How to get ready to car camp & gear you need
    • Winter Sowing Seeds: List of best seeds to winter sow and how to do it
    • Top Lakes in Iowa: 12 Best Lakes for Recreation and Relaxation
    • Tennis & Pickleball Courts in Des Moines: Find an Outdoor Public Court Near You
    • Winter Hiking Gear: Best winter hiking boots, pants & other gear you need

    Categories

    Footer

    Categories

    Archives

    DISCLAIMER/DISCLOSURE

    We make no express or implied claims or warranties regarding this website or results from using the information, content, materials, products, or services on DesMoinesOutdoors.com.

    Everything you read on this site is for entertainment purposes only. We do our best to keep up with the latest info on parks, trails, and other outdoor activities. But things change, and we don’t always know. 

    Outdoor activities can be dangerous and unpredictable. Use of the information on DesMoinesOutdoors.com is at the users’ risk. Users recognize this risk and agree to hold us harmless for any liability from the use of information on DesMoinesOutdoors.com, including, but not limited to, bodily injury, death, property damage, sickness, or disease. We assume no liability for the use of this website, any information on the site, or any inconvenience or injury resulting from information on the activities or places on this site.

    This site may contain affiliate links. See the full disclosure here.

    Copyright © 2023 · Des Moines Outdoors