Corn planting and harvest dates

Corn Planting Dates in Iowa

Usual corn planting and harvest periods in Iowa, shown as ranges with their source. Use them to frame a plan, then adjust for your own frost dates and soil temperature.

Corn dates in Iowa
Activity	Window	Source	Last verified
Planting	Apr 19 to May 26 usual (most active Apr 25 to May 18)	source	2026-11-11
Harvest	Sep 21 to Nov 21 usual (most active Oct 5 to Nov 9)	source	2026-11-11

Corn calendar for Iowa
Item	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Planting				Planting window, most active in April	Planting window, most active in May
Harvest									Harvest window in September	Harvest window, most active in October	Harvest window, most active in November

What these dates mean in Iowa

Planting usually runs about 38 days, from Apr 19 to May 26.

That start date is about 5 days later than the middle of the 41 places in this data set that report corn planting dates (Apr 14).

Harvest usually runs about 62 days, from Sep 21 to Nov 21.

From the start of the planting window to the start of the harvest window is about 155 days in Iowa, a rough guide to how long the crop occupies the bed or field.

Frost-date caveat: these are published ranges for Iowa. A northern or high-elevation site will run later than a southern or low one, and a cold wet spring can push planting past the window. Frost dates and local conditions vary; NASS state-level usual dates from 20-year progress data (Oct 2010 edition), begin ~5% and end ~95% complete. Check your last spring frost and soil temperature, and confirm with your county extension office.

Related guides

Corn dates in other places

Other crops in Iowa

Last reviewed: November 2026. Source: USDA NASS, Field Crops Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates (October 2010 edition, copy hosted by Cornell University Mann Library). Dates are the usual start and end of the period when about 5% to 95% of the crop is planted or harvested, from long-run state progress data. They are historic averages, not a forecast.