Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah

Vegetables

Vegetable plants vary in their tolerance to cold temperatures and can be grouped into four major categories, A-D, for the purpose of spring planting dates. Of course, each season has its own unique weather conditions. The average planting date shown in Table 1 is for the initial planting. You can also use the interactive tool to quickly find dates for your specific area. With many 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 time. The suggested planting dates are based on interviews with Extension faculty and experienced gardeners in various parts of Utah. 

Plants can be started from seed or transplants (young plants). The most commonly used method for the suggested planting time is listed. Many vegetables are easier to grow using transplants that are started indoors several weeks before planting outdoors. For example, artichokes need to be planted from seed indoors in early January and then grown for 2-3 months to be large enough for the transplant to be planted outside 3-4 weeks before the frost free date. Tomatoes are generally planted indoors in early April and then planted outside mid to late May. For some plants, the difference between using a transplant and seed is minimal--for example, summer squash seed planted outside in warm soil can germinate in 3 days and you have a plant. See Resources for more information.

Cool-Season Vegetables

Group A: Hardy

(Plant as soon as the soil dries out in the spring.)

Seed: Kohlrabi, Onions, Peas, Radish, Spinach, Turnip
Plants: Artichoke, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Turnip, Brussels Sprouts

Group B: Semi - Hardy

(Plants a week or two after 'A' group or about 2 weeks before average last spring frost.)

Seed: Beet, Lettuce, Potato, Carrot, Parsley, Salsify, Endive, Parsnip, Swiss Chard
Plant: Cauliflower

Warm-Season Vegetables

Group C: Tender

(Plant on the average date of the last spring frost-about when first apples reach full bloom.)

Seed: Cucumber, New Zealand Spinach, Spinach, Sweet Corn, Dry Bean, Snap Bean, Summer Squash
Plant: Celery

Group D: Very Tender

(Plant when the soil is warm, about 2 weeks after 'C' group.)

Seed: Cantalope, Lima Bean, Winter Squash
Plants: Eggplant, Pepper, Pumpkin, Tomato, Watermelon

Fall-Season Vegetables

Group E: Special Plants for Fall Harvest

(Many vegetables can be planted for a fall harvest. Examples are listed below.)

Name Average Planting Time
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

Note. Vegetable planting dates for the Washington County area are different than most of the rest of Utah. For suggested vegetable planting dates for several cities in Washington County, visit the USU Extension Washington County website.

Average Last Spring Frost and Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Various Locations in Utah

Interactive Vegetable Planting Dates Tool for Utah

 

Recommended Planting Dates:

  • Group A (Hardy):
  • Group B (Semi-Hardy):
  • Group C (Tender):
  • Group D (Very Tender):

*P = Protected with cover
Note. Dates are approximate. Adjust for your garden's microclimate and weather patterns.

Table 1. Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah

City Average Last Spring 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 June1 (*P)
Loa June 15 May 10 May 20 June 1 June 1 (*P)
Logan - SW Farm May 23 April 15 April 25 May 23 June 1
Logan - USU 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 Int'l 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
*P = Protected with cover

Notes. The occurrence of frost can vary over a short distance due to changes in elevation and topography. Keep records for your own garden area. For average freeze dates in other areas, reference the Utah Climate Center.

Resources

References

  • Banks, S. (2011). Grow your own transplants at home [Fact sheet]. Utah State University (USU) Extension.  
    https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1827&context=extension_curall
  • Crump, W., Beddes, T., Caron, M., & Oliveira, M. (2025a). Starting vegetable seeds indoors: I. planning [Fact sheet]. USU Extension.
  • Crump, W., Beddes, T., Caron, M., Oliveira, M. (2025b). Starting vegetable seeds indoors: II. materials [Fact sheet]. USU Extension. 
  • Crump, W., Beddes, T., Caron, M., Oliveira, M. (2025c). Starting vegetable seeds indoors: III. germination [Fact sheet]. USU Extension. 
  • Crump, W., Beddes, T., Caron, M., & Oliveira, M. (2025d). Starting vegetable seeds indoors: IV. seedling culture and transplanting [Fact sheet]. USU Extension. 
  • Hamson, A. R. (1990). Growing vegetables [EC313]. USU Extension.
  • Moller, A. L. & Gillies, R. R. (2008). Utah climate (2nd ed.). Utah Climate Center, Utah State University. 
  • Utah State University Extension various authors. (2102). Vegetables, fruits, & herbs book. USU Extension. https://extension.usu.edu/fieldguides/vegetables-fruits-and-herbs

Published January 2018; revised May 2025
Utah State University Extension
Peer-reviewed fact sheet

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Authors

Shawn Olsen

 
 

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