Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates
for the Wasatch Front
by Shawn Olsen, USU Extension Agent
Listed below are suggested vegetable planting dates for an average year along the Wasatch Front. Of course, each season has its own unique weather conditions. The “Average Planting Date” is for the initial planting. With crops such as broccoli, radish, carrot, sweet corn, and Swiss chard, several plantings can be made a few weeks apart and later than the average planting date.
The average date of the last spring frost will vary with location and elevation. Listed below are the 30-year average last frost dates for various cities.
Bountiful - Val Verda April 17
Farmington May 5
Midvale May 13
Ogden May 3
Provo - Airport May 21
Provo – BYU May 1
Salt Lake City - Airport April 26
Salt Lake City – U of U May 1
Tooele May 7
Tremonton May 3
*For more information on freeze dates and Utah’s climate, go to http://climate.usu.edu
Group A: Hardy (Plant as soon as the soil dries out in the spring.)
Average Planting Date: March 15 – May 1
Artichoke Kohlrabi
Asparagus Onions Rhubarb
Broccoli Peas Spinach
Cabbage Radish Turnip
Group B: Semi-Hardy (Plant a week or two after “A” group or about two weeks before average last spring frost.)
Average Planting Date: March 20 – May 1
Beet Lettuce Potato
Carrot Parsley Salsify
Cauliflower Parsnip Swiss Chard
Endive
Group C: Tender (Plant on the average date of the last spring frost—about when first apples reach full bloom.)
Average Planting Date: May 5 – June 1
Celery Spinach
Cucumber Summer Squash
Dry Bean Sweet Corn
Snap Bean
Group D: Very Tender (Plant when the soil is warm, about two weeks after “C” group.
Average Planting Date: May 20 –June 10
Cantaloupe Pumpkin
Eggplant Tomato
Lima Bean Watermelon
Pepper Winter Squash
Group E: Special Plants for Fall Harvest
Average Planting Date
Beets July 1 – August 1
Cabbage May 1 – July 15
Kale July 1 – August 15
Lettuce June 1 – August 1
Onion August 1 – August 10
Rutabaga June 15 – July 1
Spinach July 1 – August 15
Turnip July 1 – August 1
References
Hamson, A.R. (1990). Growing vegetables. Utah State University Extension, EC313.
Moller, A.L., & Gillies, R.R. (2008). Utah Climate, 2nd Ed. Utah State University, Utah Climate Center.