Salt Lake City, Utah · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Salt Lake City

This month's sowing list for Salt Lake City, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

1 vegetable to sow or plant now

1 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 20, and frost is unlikely after about May 10.

Sow or plant in Salt Lake City in October

Start seeds indoors

Nothing this month.

Direct sow

Nothing this month.

Transplant

Garlic

Ready to pick in October

Arugula
Beets
Bok choy
Broccoli
Bush beans
Carrot
Cauliflower
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Kale
Lettuce
Parsley
Pole beans
Radish
Scallions
Strawberry
Swiss chard
Tomato
Turnip
Winter squash

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Salt Lake City

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: April to June.

Transplant: May to July.

Best time to start: May to June.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Potatoes

Plant: April.

Best time to start: April.

Pick: July to August.

First pick about 11 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Plant: September to November.

Best time to start: September to November.

Pick: May to July.

First pick about 35 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Direct sow: March to April and September.

Best time to start: March to May and September.

Pick: June and October to December.

First pick about 8 weeks after starting.

Carrots

Direct sow: March to April and August.

Best time to start: March to April.

Pick: June and October to January.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Direct sow: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onions

Start seeds indoors: January to March.

Transplant: March to May.

Best time to start: March to May.

Pick: July to August.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Strawberries

Plant: March to May.

Best time to start: March.

Pick: July to November.

First pick about 14 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to June.

Direct sow: May to June.

Transplant: May to July.

Best time to start: May to June.

Pick: August to October.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to July.

Direct sow: May to August.

Transplant: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to September.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Salt Lake City

Start seeds indoors
Direct sow
Transplant
Pick
Paler: possible, but not the best time

Vegetable	O	N	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	First pick
Arugula					S	S	S				S	about 5 weeks
Basil						T	T	S	S	P		about 6 weeks
Beets					S	S	S			S	S	about 7 weeks
Bell pepper					T	T	P	P	P			about 15 weeks
Bok choy					S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 4 weeks
Broccoli				T	P	P			T			about 14 weeks
Bush beans							S	S	S	S		about 7 weeks
Cabbage				T	P	P						about 15 weeks
Cantaloupe							T	S	S			about 9 weeks
Carrot					S	S				S		about 9 weeks
Cauliflower									T	P		about 13 weeks
Celery				T		P						about 20 weeks
Chives					T	S	S	P	T	T	P	about 8 weeks
Cilantro						S					S	about 6 weeks
Cucumber							S	S	S	S		about 5 weeks
Dill						S	S				S	about 6 weeks
Eggplant					T	T	P	P	P			about 16 weeks
Fava beans					S							about 14 weeks
Garlic	P	P									P	about 35 weeks
Hot pepper					T	T	P	P	P			about 17 weeks
Kale					S	S	S		T	T	S	about 8 weeks
Leek			T	T	P	P						about 19 weeks
Lettuce					S	S					S	about 8 weeks
Okra								S	S			about 6 weeks
Onion			T	T	P	P	P					about 20 weeks
Parsley					T	S	S		T	T	P	about 8 weeks
Peas					S							about 11 weeks
Pole beans							S	S	S			about 8 weeks
Potato						P						about 11 weeks
Radish					S	S	S				S	about 4 weeks
Runner beans									S			about 9 weeks
Scallions					S	S	S	S	S	S	S	about 5 weeks
Spinach					S	S						about 8 weeks
Strawberry					P	P	P					about 14 weeks
Sweet corn						T	S	S	S			about 8 weeks
Sweet potato								P				about 11 weeks
Swiss chard					S	S	S			S	S	about 6 weeks
Tomato						T	P	P	P			about 15 weeks
Turnip					S	S					S	about 8 weeks
Watermelon							T	S	S			about 9 weeks
Winter squash						T	S	S	P			about 12 weeks
Zucchini						T	S	S	S	S		about 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: cauliflower, celery and leek.

Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: fava beans.

Salt Lake City season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrot, celery, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, fava beans, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, potato, radish, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: beets, broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, kale, okra, parsley, runner beans, sweet potato and Swiss chard.

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, broccoli, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, cilantro, dill, garlic, lettuce, radish and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, scallions, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: broccoli, cabbage, celery, leek and onion.

Last chance for: celery.

Frost in Salt Lake City

Last frost, most years: around April 20
Frost is unlikely after: about May 10
First frost, most years: around October 23
Frost-free days in a year: about 186

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Harder to grow in Salt Lake City

Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: celeriac.

Too cold here: Brussels sprouts, parsnip and rutabaga.

Questions about planting in Salt Lake City

What can I plant now in Salt Lake City?

In October, 1 vegetables can be sown or planted in Salt Lake City, including garlic. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Salt Lake City?

In Salt Lake City, sow tomatoes indoors from April to June and transplant them from May to July. The best time to start is from May to June. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Salt Lake City?

In Salt Lake City, plant potatoes in April. The best time to start is in April. Picking runs from July to August.

When should I plant garlic in Salt Lake City?

In Salt Lake City, plant garlic from September to November. The best time to start is from September to November. Picking runs from May to July.

When is the last frost in Salt Lake City?

In most years the last frost in Salt Lake City comes around April 20. Frost is unlikely after about May 10, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 23.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Salt Lake City?

The quick ones are bok choy (about 4 weeks), radish (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), cucumber (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks) and Swiss chard (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Salt Lake City. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).