Vegetable Planting Times

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.

  City                                         Average Last Frost

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, 2^nd Ed.  Utah State University, Utah Climate Center.