What to plant this week in Des Moines, IA
With the average last frost date in Des Moines hovering around May 1, this week marks the critical transition from early spring prep to active planting for our Zone 5b gardens. Gardeners should focus on hardening off seedlings and sowing warm-weather crops like bush beans and sweet corn as the soil finally warms enough after weeks of cool, variable weather.
The next 7 days
Des Moines, IAGrowing in Des Moines right now
- Our glacial till soils can remain cold and waterlogged longer than expected; ensure you wait until soil temps hit 60°F before planting transplants like basil or zinnias to prevent 'cold shock'.
- The high clay content common in the metro area drains slowly, so amend heavy beds with compost and create raised mounds for squash and melons to avoid root rot during our spring thaw.
- Watch for late-season snow squalls that can drop temperatures well below zero; cover sensitive seedlings or mulch heavily around garlic and early potatoes now.
- Des Moines receives much of its rainfall in the spring, leading to compacted soil; loosen beds gently before planting to ensure proper oxygen flow to developing roots.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Nasturtium
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Harvest bush beans, cucumbers, and yellow summer squash regularly to encourage continued production.
- Deadhead spent flowers like cosmos and zinnia to keep the plants looking tidy and blooming longer.
- Check on garlic scapes if planted early this spring; it's time to harvest them soon.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for cutworms on young bean and squash stems as they emerge from the cold ground this week.
- Early aphid colonies often establish quickly on succulent new growth of edamame and fennel in our humid spring air.
- Slugs and snails remain active during cool, wet nights, targeting tender seedlings like nasturtiums and cosmos.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated during this warm growing season while letting soil dry slightly between sessions.
Pinch back any leggy basil or shiso plants now to promote bushier growth before the heat peaks.
Des Moines gardening questions
3Can I plant garlic now or is it too late for Des Moines?
Yes, this is the prime time to set hardneck garlic in our Zone 5b zone; plant cloves immediately into loose soil while leaves are still green, as they need several weeks of cold dormancy before winter.
When should I move my tomato and pepper seedlings outside?
Wait until after May 1 when the frost danger has passed and soil temperatures consistently stay above 60°F to avoid stunting or killing these heat-loving plants in our short growing season.
How do I protect watermelons and cantaloupes from our spring rains?
Plant these vining crops on raised hills or mounds of compost to ensure excellent drainage, as our clay-heavy soil holds moisture that can rot the shallow roots during wet spells.
Other cities in zone 5b
8See the full zone 5b guide → · Plan your Des Moines garden in SproutGuide →