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Can You Grow Peanut in Iowa?

US · USDA Zone 5a · zones 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b

Won't grow here

Peanuts need 120-150 warm frost-free days to mature — too short or too cool a season means no nuts.

Plant zones

6a–11b

Iowa last frost

mid-April

Iowa first frost

mid-October

Days to harvest

120–150 days

When to plant Peanuts in Iowa

Start indoors

Mar 18

Transplant

Apr 15

Harvest

Aug 13 – Sep 12

Dates are approximate, based on Iowa's average frost dates. Your exact yard may vary by microclimate.

About Peanut

Peanuts are a fascinating crop — not a tree nut but a legume that flowers above ground and buries its pods below. They need a long, hot growing season and loose, sandy soil.

Plant raw, unroasted peanuts after soil warms to 65°F+. Hill soil around plants as they grow so pegs can bury. Harvest when foliage yellows; dry the pods before shelling.

Full peanut growing guide →

Gardening in Iowa

Iowa has a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm summers. Most of the state is Zone 5a-5b. Excellent for cool-season crops and hardy fruits.