Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah
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. 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. Detailed instructions for growing your own transplants are available in the USU Extension publication “Grow your own transplants at home” (Banks, 2011). 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.
The book “Vegetables, Fruits, & Herbs” (USU Extension, 2012) gives detailed instructions on how to grow many different vegetables and is available at: usuextensionstore.com. The website, garden.usu.edu provides information on garden and soil care and detailed growing information for fruits and vegetables in Utah.
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
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
Average Last Spring Frost and Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Various Locations in 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) |
| Castel 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
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: climate.usu.edu
Many vegetables can be planted for a fall harvest. Here are some examples:
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
Group E: Special Plants for Fall Harvest
| 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 |
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 website: https://extension.usu.edu/washington/gardening/vegetables/index
References
- Banks, S. (2011). Grow your own transplants at home. Utah State University Extension. Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1827&context=extension_curall - 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.
- Utah State University Extension various authors. (2102). Vegetables, fruits, & herbs book. Utah State University Extension. Available at: https://extension.usu.edu/fieldguides/vegetables-fruits-and-herbs
Utah State University Extension
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Authors
Shawn Olsen
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