What to plant this week in Des Moines, IA
With the average last frost date just yesterday in Des Moines, gardeners are officially out of the cold-start phase and into full-season planting. This week marks a critical window to sow warm-weather crops like zucchini and cucumbers directly into your plots before the soil fully warms up.
The next 7 days
Des Moines, IAGrowing in Des Moines right now
- The low-lying terrain around Des Moines often creates frost pockets where temperatures drop below -15°F in winter, so ensure your spring beds have good drainage to prevent waterlogging during this wet season start.
- Our heavy clay soils hold moisture well but require frequent aeration; break up the surface crust now to allow air and rainwater to penetrate deeper for these new squash plantings.
- With rainfall often concentrated in short bursts, spread out your seed sowing over two days rather than one to ensure germination if an unexpected storm dumps inches of water overnight.
Sow this week
6 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
55 crops- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and pole beans every two weeks for a continuous supply of fresh pods.
- Mulch around heavy feeders like tomatoes and peppers to retain moisture as summer heat sets in.
- Pinch back the tops of young squash plants to encourage bushy growth before they get too large.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for early-season squash vine borers as cucumbers and zucchini emerge; inspect stems daily for entrance holes or frass near the soil line.
- Spring frosts can damage tender transplants, so keep frost cloth handy to cover new French marigolds and nasturtiums if a cold front moves through unexpectedly.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep soil moist but avoid wetting foliage which invites disease on your leafy greens.
Harvest Banana Peppers and Cayenne Peppers now while they are still small for a spicier, more compact fruit.
Des Moines gardening questions
3Can I plant my summer squash seeds now in Des Moines?
Yes, this is the ideal time to sow Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini directly into the ground since temperatures are consistently above 50°F. Make sure to space them out widely so their vines have room to spread across your available beds.
What vegetables should I start harvesting from my garden this week?
You can begin pulling fresh Beefsteak Tomatoes, Carrots, and Beets if they are large enough in your established rows. Also check your Banana Peppers for fruit that is ready to come off the vine before it drops on its own.
How do I protect my garden from our typical late-spring cold snaps?
Even though May 1st is the average last frost, keep row covers over young plants like Cabbage and Collard Greens until you see a sustained warm trend. Have your greenhouse ready as a backup if a freeze is forecasted below zero.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your Des Moines garden in SproutGuide →