When to plant vegetables in Utah
Planting dates for 36 Utah locations, the fall crops that still work in July, and a month-by-month garden checklist.
The four crop groups
- Group A, hardy: kohlrabi, onions, peas, radishes, spinach and turnips from seed; artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts as transplants. Plant as soon as the soil dries out in spring.[1]
- Group B, semi-hardy: beets, lettuce, potatoes, carrots, parsley, parsnips and Swiss chard from seed; cauliflower as a transplant. Plant one to two weeks after Group A, about two weeks before the average last frost.[1]
- Group C, tender: cucumbers, spinach, sweet corn, dry and snap beans and summer squash from seed; celery as a transplant. Plant on the average last spring frost date.[1]
- Group D, very tender: cantaloupe, lima beans and winter squash from seed; eggplant, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes and watermelon as transplants. Wait until the soil is warm, about two weeks after Group C.[1]
Planting dates by location
These dates are USU Extension's suggestions for each station. Dates are approximate. Frost timing can change over short distances, so USU recommends keeping your own records. A (P) means protect the planting with a cover. Washington County has different dates; see the USU Extension Washington County office.[1]
| Location | Average last frost | Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver | June 6 | April 15 | April 25 | May 20 | June 1 (P) |
| Castle Dale | May 25 | April 15 | April 25 | May 25 | May 15 (P) |
| Cedar City | May 21 | April 1 | April 15 | May 20 | June 1 |
| Coalville | June 18 | May 1 | May 10 | June 10 | May 15 (P) |
| Duchesne | May 23 | April 1 | April 15 | June 1 | May 15 (P) |
| Farmington | May 5 | March 15 | March 20 | May 5 | May 20 |
| Fillmore | May 16 | March 15 | April 1 | May 16 | June 1 |
| Heber | June 11 | April 25 | May 5 | June 5 | May 15 (P) |
| Kanab | May 7 | March 25 | April 10 | April 25 | May 15 |
| Laketown | June 15 | May 1 | May 10 | June 1 | June 1 (P) |
| Loa | June 15 | May 10 | May 20 | June 1 | June 1 (P) |
| Logan, Southwest Farm | May 23 | April 15 | April 25 | May 23 | June 1 |
| Logan, USU campus | May 7 | April 1 | April 10 | May 7 | May 20 |
| Manila | June 2 | March 15 | April 1 | May 20 | June 1 (P) |
| Manti | May 24 | May 1 | May 10 | May 25 | June 1 (P) |
| Marysvale | June 3 | May 1 | May 10 | May 20 | May 25 (P) |
| Midvale | May 13 | March 15 | April 1 | May 13 | May 27 |
| Moab | April 18 | March 15 | April 1 | April 15 | May 1 |
| Monticello | May 28 | April 1 | April 15 | June 1 | May 15 (P) |
| Morgan | June 6 | March 15 | April 1 | May 20 | June 1 |
| Nephi | May 16 | March 15 | April 1 | May 16 | June 1 |
| Ogden | May 3 | March 15 | March 20 | May 3 | May 20 |
| Panguitch | June 21 | May 10 | May 20 | June 7 | June 1 (P) |
| Price | May 12 | March 15 | April 1 | May 12 | May 27 |
| Provo, BYU | May 1 | March 15 | March 20 | May 1 | May 20 |
| Provo, Airport | May 21 | April 1 | April 15 | May 20 | June 1 |
| Richfield | May 28 | April 1 | April 15 | May 25 | June 1 (P) |
| Salt Lake International Airport | April 26 | March 15 | March 20 | April 26 | May 15 |
| Salt Lake County, Cottonwood Weir | April 30 | March 15 | March 20 | April 30 | May 15 |
| Santaquin | May 14 | March 15 | April 1 | May 14 | June 1 |
| St. George | March 30 | Feb. 15 | March 1 | March 15 | April 1 |
| Tooele | May 7 | March 15 | March 20 | May 7 | May 20 |
| Tremonton | May 3 | March 15 | March 20 | May 3 | May 20 |
| Vernal | May 27 | April 1 | April 15 | June 1 | May 15 (P) |
| West Jordan Conservation Garden | May 10 | March 15 | April 1 | May 12 | May 27 |
| Woodruff | June 26 | May 15 | June 1 | n/a | n/a |
Fall crops
Some crops are best sown in summer for a fall harvest. USU gives these average planting windows.[1]
| Crop | Average planting window |
|---|---|
| Beets | July 1 – Aug. 1 |
| Cabbage | May 1 – July 15 |
| Kale | July 1 – Aug. 15 |
| Lettuce | June 1 – Aug. 1 |
| Onion | Aug. 1 – Aug. 10 |
| Rutabaga | June 15 – July 1 |
| Spinach | July 1 – Aug. 15 |
| Turnip | July 1 – Aug. 1 |
What to do each month
- March: test the soil, sow peas, lettuce and radishes once the garden soil is workable, and plant bare-root trees and shrubs.[2]
- April: sow cool-season vegetables, learn to plant asparagus and rhubarb, and protect fruit blossoms and tender plants from late freezes.[2]
- May: plant warm-season vegetables and annuals after the last frost, set tomatoes deep so they root along the stem, and sow sweet corn every other week until early July.[2]
- June: stop harvesting asparagus in early June, prune tomatoes to open the canopy, and consider drip irrigation.[2]
- July: start harvesting tomatoes, pick summer squash while small, and fertilize potatoes with nitrogen in early July.[2]
- August: harvest potatoes, garlic and onions when the tops dry and cure them two to three weeks; store them cool and dry at 32 to 40°F.[2]
- September: expect tomato flower drop when temperatures reach 95°F or higher, and know that blossom end rot is usually uneven watering.[2]
- October: harvest winter squash, plant garlic from mid-October to early November, protect tomatoes from early frost, and remove spent plants.[2]
- November: blow out irrigation systems, disconnect hoses and clean tools.[2]
USU Extension has a growing guide for each crop, from artichokes to watermelon, plus a Utah Veggie Reviews spreadsheet of variety results by city and county.[3]
Local guides
- Salt Lake County and Tooele County
- Utah County
- Northern Utah: Davis, Weber, Cache, Box Elder, Morgan and Rich
- Summit and Wasatch counties
- Central Utah: Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, Piute and Wayne
- Southern Utah: Washington, Iron, Kane, Garfield and Beaver
- Eastern Utah: Carbon, Emery, Grand, San Juan, Uintah, Duchesne and Daggett
Keep reading
- Utah growing zones and frost dates
- Trees, shrubs and flowers that suit Utah
- Utah lawn calendar, month by month