Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates For the Wasatch Front

Planting garden

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 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 
Salt Lake County - Cottonwood Weir April 30
Tooele May 7
Tremonton May 3


*For more information on freeze dates and Utah’s climate, go to climate.usu.edu 

Group A: Hardy

(Plant as soon as the soil dries out in the spring.)
Average Planting Date: March 1 - April 15

  • Artichoke
  • Asparagus 
  • Broccoli 
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Kohlrabi 
  • Onions 
  • Peas 
  • Radish
  • Rhubarb
  • Spinach
  • 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
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Endive
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Potato
  • Salsify
  • Swiss Chard 

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 
  • Cucumber
  • Dry Bean
  • New Zealand
  • Snap Bean
  • Spinach
  • Summer Squash
  • Sweet Corn

Group D: Very Tender

(Plant when the soil is warm, about two weeks after "C" group.)
Average Planting Date: May 20 - June 10

  • Cantaloupe
  • Eggplant
  • Lima Bean
  • Pepper, Sweet, Hot
  • Pumpkin
  • Tomato
  • Watermelon
  • 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.
Published January 2018
Utah State University Extension
Peer-reviewed fact sheet

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Authors

Shawn Olsen, USU Extension Agent

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