The USDA Zone info is a great tool for gardeners to help us estimate your gardening schedule. The most important data that the zone info tells us is average last frost and the lowest expected temperature for your area.

It's a good idea to determine when you can plant scarlet pimpernels by reviewing the USDA zone info for Des Moines.

Planting Calendar for Scarlet Pimpernels

Frost tolerance for scarlet pimpernels:	Tolerant of a very small amount of frost.
When to plant:	Up to 3 weeks before last frost.

Scarlet Pimpernels do well in mild cold which means that you can plant them a bit earlier in the year than more sensitive plants.

The earliest that you can plant scarlet pimpernels in Des Moines is March. However, you really should wait until April if you don't want to take any chances.

The last month that you can plant scarlet pimpernels and expect a good harvest is probably August. If you wait any later than that and your scarlet pimpernels may not have a chance to fully mature. Starting your scarlet pimpernels indoors is a great way to get them started a few weeks earlier.

Last Frost Date

On average the last frost has passed is on April 15 in Des Moines. You can expect an average low temperature of -15°F in the coldest months of winter.

Always keep in mind that USDA zone info for Des Moines may not be accurate from year to year and the actual date of last frost is different every year. Half of the time in Des Moines last frost occurs after April 15 so be sure to be ready to protect your scarlet pimpernels in the event of a surprise late frost.

USDA Zone Info for Des Moines

Here is the info for USDA Zone 5b.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)	April 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)	October 15
Lowest Expected Low	-15°F
Highest Expected Low	-10°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is -15°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near -10°F.

Plants to Grow in Des Moines

You may be interested in your other planting guides for Des Moines.