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Planting Calendar for Iola, KS

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-season crops, such as kale and lettuce, do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 21 (at IOLA 1 W, KS climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 2-Oct 7
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jul 29-Aug 26
Moon Jul 29-Aug 3, Aug 20-26
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 12-Sep 2
Moon Aug 12-19, Sep 2
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 22-29
Frost Aug 12-26
Moon Aug 12-19
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 1-15
Moon Jul 5-15
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 22-29
Frost Aug 12-19
Moon Aug 12-19
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 5-12
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 15-22
Moon Jul 15-21
Frost Jul 29-Aug 5
Moon Aug 4-5
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jul 29-Aug 26
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 22-Aug 5
Moon Aug 4-5
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 3-17
Moon Nov 16-17
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 5-19
Moon Aug 5-19
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 12-26
Moon Aug 12-19
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 19-Sep 9
Moon Aug 19, Sep 3-9
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 12-26
Moon Aug 12-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 19-Sep 9
Moon Aug 19, Sep 3-9
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 12-26
Moon Aug 12-19
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 9-23
Moon Sep 18-23
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 2-23
Moon Sep 2-17
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 12-26
Moon Aug 12-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 19-Sep 2
Moon Aug 20-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant

Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 14 (at IOLA 1 W, KS climate station, elevation 954 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Sep 23
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
Apr 14
BasilFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon May 7-12
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon May 7-12
Sep 9
BeetsN/AFrost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Mar 31-Apr 7
Frost Mar 17-24
Apr 28
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 9-17
Frost Apr 28-May 5
N/AJul 29
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Frost Apr 28-May 5
May 26
BroccoliFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Aug 19
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Jul 15
CabbageFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Apr 21
CantaloupesFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
Frost Apr 21-28
Moon Apr 21-23
Jul 15
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 26-31
Aug 12
CauliflowerFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
N/AAug 5
CeleryFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 20-25
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Apr 14
Moon Apr 14
Aug 12
ChivesFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Aug 26
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
May 5
CollardsFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Aug 12
CucumbersFrost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Aug 12
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 7-28
Moon Apr 8-23
Aug 26
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 28-May 5
Jul 15
EggplantsFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Apr 28-May 5
N/AAug 12
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Apr 28
FennelFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 21-28
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Apr 14-28
Moon Apr 14-23
Aug 5
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 21-May 12
Moon Apr 21-23, May 7-12
Aug 12
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Jul 22
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 9-17
Frost Apr 28-May 5
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Apr 28
KohlrabiFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Apr 28
LeeksFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 9-17
Frost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
N/AJul 8
LettuceFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Apr 28
MicrogreensN/AN/AN/A
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 17-25
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon May 7-12
Aug 12
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 26-31
N/AJul 15
OreganoFrost Feb 3-Mar 2
Moon Feb 9-24
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
N/AAug 12
ParsleyFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 9-17
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Mar 17-Apr 21
Moon Mar 17-25, Apr 8-21
Aug 5
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-24
Jul 15
PeanutsN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Apr 28
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 26-31
Aug 12
PumpkinsFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Jul 8
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-24
Aug 26
RosemaryFrost Jan 20-Feb 3
Moon Jan 20-25
Frost Apr 28-May 5
N/AAug 26
SageFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
N/AAug 5
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-31
Moon Mar 26-31
Jul 15
SpinachFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Mar 17-24
Moon Mar 17-24
Apr 28
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Apr 28-May 12
Moon May 7-12
Aug 5
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 28-May 12
Moon Apr 28-May 6
Jul 8
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Mar 31-Apr 14
Moon Apr 8-14
Frost Mar 24-Apr 14
Moon Mar 24-25, Apr 8-14
Apr 28
ThymeFrost Feb 3-17
Moon Feb 9-17
Frost Apr 21-28
Moon Apr 21-23
N/AJul 29
TomatillosFrost Mar 2-17
Frost Apr 28-May 12
Moon May 7-12
N/AAug 5
TomatoesFrost Feb 17-Mar 2
Moon Feb 17-24
Frost Apr 28-May 5
N/AJul 22
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 17-24
Sep 23
WatermelonsFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Frost Apr 21-28
Moon Apr 21-23
Jul 22
Winter SquashFrost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Jul 1
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 24-31
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Apr 28-May 5
Aug 19
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