Locally Grown
Vegetable & Herb Starts

At Holub Greenhouses in Ames, Iowa, every start we sell is grown in the area, so each plant is already acclimated to the Plant Hardiness Zone 5 climate in central Iowa. Whether you’re filling a raised bed in Ames or a patio container in Polk City, our vegetable and herb starts are sold healthy, vigorous and ready to perform for the growing season. Get farm to table freshness and flavor all season long when you come to Holub – Ames favorite greenhouse and garden center for over 40 years.

Fresh Vegetables Flavorful Herbs in Your Garden.

Shop Our Flavor-Packed Vegetable & Herb Selection

Our Ames greenhouses offer one of central Iowa’s most diverse arrays of heat-loving, cool-season, and specialty edible plants. From classic beefsteak tomatoes to Thai basil and ghost peppers, you’ll find region-tested favorites in convenient cell packs, quarts and patio-ready containers.

Seasonal availability—while supplies last

Our growers maintain a broad inventory so you can plant successively all spring and summer. If you need guidance on crop spacing, soil amendment or pest control, our team is here to help.

A garden favorite, basil is a fragrant herb that pairs perfectly with tomatoes and pastas. It grows quickly in warm weather and thrives in pots or garden beds.

Best Time to Plant: Late spring after frost; grows through summer into fall

Broccoli is a cool-season crop packed with nutrients. It produces large green heads and performs best in early spring or fall plantings.

Best Time to Plant: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest

Brussels sprouts develop miniature cabbage-like heads along a sturdy stalk. They're best harvested after a light frost, which improves their flavor.

Best Time to Plant: Mid to late summer for a fall harvest

Cabbage is a sturdy, leafy vegetable that grows best in cooler weather.

Best Time to Plant: Early spring or mid-summer for fall crops

Cauliflower produces compact white heads and prefers consistent moisture and cool temps. Great for roasting, ricing, or fresh eating.

Best Time to Plant: Early spring or late summer

Chives are a perennial herb with slender, onion-flavored leaves & purple pom-pom blooms.

Best Time to Plant: Spring; can grow through fall in containers

Cilantro grows quickly and is perfect for salsa, tacos, and curries. It prefers cool weather.

Best Time to Plant: Early spring or early fall

Crisp and refreshing, cucumbers love the heat and produce prolifically with full sun and support to climb. Great for pickling or slicing.

Best Time to Plant: Late spring after frost; thrives through summer

Eggplants need warm soil and sunshine to produce glossy, deep-purple fruit. Great grilled, roasted, or in Mediterranean dishes.

Best Time to Plant: Late spring to early summer

Kale is a nutrient-dense leafy green that tolerates cold well. It’s perfect for salads, smoothies, and soups—and gets sweeter after frost.

Best Time to Plant: Early spring or late summer for fall crops

Kohlrabi grows a round, crunchy bulb above the soil with edible leaves. Mild in flavor, it’s excellent raw or roasted.

Best Time to Plant: Early spring or mid-summer

Lettuce grows fast and comes in many varieties—romaine, leaf, butterhead, and more. Enjoy a steady harvest by planting in intervals.

Best Time to Plant: Early spring and again in late summer

Parsley is a versatile herb that thrives in both full sun and part shade. Its fresh flavor enhances soups, stews, and salads.

Best Time to Plant: Early spring; can grow through late fall

From sweet bells to hot chilies, peppers thrive in heat and produce vibrant, flavorful fruits for grilling, stuffing, or drying.

Best Time to Plant: Late spring after the last frost

Sweet potatoes grow underground from slips and need a long, warm growing season. They produce trailing vines and nutritious tubers.

Best Time to Plant: Late spring once soil is consistently warm

Tomatoes are the crown jewel of the summer garden. Choose from cherry, slicing, or heirloom types and enjoy a bounty with sun and support.

Best Time to Plant: Late spring after danger of frost

Zucchini grows fast and produces abundantly in warm weather. Great sautéed, grilled, or even baked into breads and muffins.

Best Time to Plant: Late spring through early summer

Enjoy Herbs and Vegetables That Thrive in Iowa Summers

Many of our varieties are:

  • Bred for the short, hot growing seasons we see in Iowa
  • Naturally resistant to common Midwest pests
  • High-yielding in raised beds & containers
  • Tested for flavor and texture in local trials

Whether you’re planting your first salsa garden or expanding a community garden plot, our wide selections ensure reliable harvests from spring through fall.

Why Central Iowa Gardeners Choose Holub

  • Locally Grown: Starts are raised in Iowa—not shipped in from out-of-state.
  • Iowa-Proven Varieties: Selected to excel in USDA Zones 5a–5b.
  • Expert Advice: Holub’s staff helps with everything from frost dates to fertilization.
  • Family-Owned for 40+ Years: Trusted by generations of gardeners in Story, Boone, Marshall & Polk counties.
  • One-Stop Shop: Organic fertilizers, trellises, frost cloth & more under one roof.

Let’s Grow Something Delicious & Healthy—Together

Whether you’re sowing a backyard garden or teaching kids to grow their first herbs, Holub Greenhouses has the plants, supplies and know-how you need.

Visit us just north of Ames on 190th Street, or contact us to learn more about this season’s best vegetable and herb starts.

Proudly serving gardeners in Ames, Boone, Nevada, Ankeny, Marshalltown, Story City, and surrounding central Iowa communities.

Grow local. Eat local. Love your garden.