Cooperative extension offices

Iowa State University Yard and Garden

Ames, Iowa, serving Iowa and regional home gardening reference. Listed as a reference, not an endorsement.

Overview

Iowa State University Extension publishes home gardening information about plant care, recommendations, growing, harvesting, and pest management. This listing is provided for reference, not as an endorsement, certification, ranking, or guarantee of current availability.

Services and programs

  • Plant care information
  • Pest management
  • Growing and harvesting guidance

What to verify before you go

Contact the organization or review its official source before making a trip, placing an order, joining a garden, or applying for funding. Details that commonly change include:

  • Current recommendations
  • Local county services

Related directory resources

Browse all extension offices or return to the directory hub.

Sources and last verified

Source: Iowa State University Extension. Last checked 2026-10-04.

Iowa State University Extension publishes current home gardening information through its Yard and Garden resource.

What this listing covers

The source includes plant care, recommendations, growing and harvesting information, and pest management resources written by extension specialists. It is a regional reference for Iowa gardeners.

Before relying on a recommendation

Check the publication date and local context. Confirm whether a question needs a county office or another extension contact.

More tools

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Calculate

Potting mix calculator

Size pots and planters in quarts, cubic feet, and bags.

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Calculate

Seed germination calculator

Turn a towel test into a sowing rate.

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Calculate

Raised bed calculator

Get a lumber cut list and soil volume for a bed.

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Calculate

Square foot garden planner

Lay out a bed in 1 foot squares and count the plants.

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Garden guides

Browse all guides

Greenhouse growing

Greenhouse temperature guide for seeds and seedlings

Use crop-specific greenhouse temperatures for seed germination, seedlings, frost protection, and ventilation, with practical day and night ranges.

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Diagram of a raised bed cross section showing timber walls, a layer of existing soil or coarse fill, and the measured depth of new soil being added.

Materials

How much soil does a raised bed need?

How to measure a raised bed and turn the volume into bags or bulk cubic yards, with a worked example for a common 8 by 4 bed.

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October calendar diagram showing planting windows for garlic, spring bulbs, hardy greens, and cover crops closing as the first fall frost approaches.

Seasonal

What can I plant right now in my garden?

In early October, most US gardeners can still plant garlic, spring bulbs, hardy greens, and cover crops. Here is what is still open and what has closed.

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Diagram of a tulip bulb in a soil cross section planted at about three times its own height, pointed end up, with a depth marker of 6 to 8 inches.

Fall planting

When should I plant tulip bulbs?

Plant tulip bulbs in fall, about 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes. Here is how the window shifts by region and how deep to plant.

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Plant library

Browse all plants
Illustration of three asparagus spears emerging from the soil

Vegetable

Asparagus

A perennial crop that produces spring spears for 15 or more years once established.

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Illustration of a brussels sprouts stalk lined with small round buds

Vegetable

Brussels sprouts

A long-season brassica that rewards patience with sweet sprouts after autumn frosts.

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Illustration of a squash vine with lobed leaves and a pear shaped butternut fruit

Vegetable

Butternut squash

A long warm-season vine whose hard-skinned fruit cures for months of winter storage.

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Illustration of a round cabbage head wrapped in outer leaves

Vegetable

Cabbage

A cool-season brassica grown for dense heads that keep well in storage.

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Glossary terms

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seeds

Direct sowing

Direct sowing means planting seed where the crop will grow instead of starting it in a container and transplanting it later. Learn when direct sowing works best.

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pests and diseases

Disease triangle

The disease triangle describes how a susceptible host, a disease-causing organism, and suitable environmental conditions must overlap for disease to develop.

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soil

Drainage

Drainage is the movement of excess water through or away from soil. Good drainage keeps roots supplied with water without leaving the root zone saturated.

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timing

First frost date

A first frost date estimates when a location may experience its first autumn freeze. Use it to plan harvest and protection, not as a guarantee.

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