Provo, Utah planting calendar and frost dates
Provo is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 18 and the first fall frost around October 21, giving about 185 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 18
- Typical first frost
- October 21
- Frost-free season
- 185 days
Frost dates in Provo
Last spring frost
- March 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 18Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 5Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 7Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 21Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 185 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 31 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Provo Byu, 0.9 miles NNE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Provo
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Provo
All 3 of Provo's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Provo Byu, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6b in 84604, and 7a in 84601, 84606.
Planting dates for popular crops in Provo
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 11 to 25 | Jul 22 to Aug 26 |
| Cilantro | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 18 to 25 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 2 to 9 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
| Onions | Dec 27 to Feb 7 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 24 to Mar 24 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 28 to Apr 18 | Jul 29 to Aug 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 5 to Sep 2 |
| Peas | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Jul 29 to Aug 12 |
| Spinach | Mar 7 to 14 | Apr 11 to 25 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 18 to May 9 | — |
| Zinnias | May 16 to 23 | Jun 13 to 27 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 9 to Nov 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 9 to Oct 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Orem, UT zone 7a, last frost Apr 17
- Saratoga Springs, UT zone 7a, last frost May 2
- Lehi, UT zone 7a, last frost Apr 17
- Eagle Mountain, UT zone 6b, last frost Jun 2
- Draper, UT zone 7a, last frost Apr 18
- Sandy, UT zone 6b, last frost Jun 11
Planting in UtahAbout zone 6bPrintable calendar for Provo
Questions
When is the last frost in Provo?
Around April 18 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Provo Byu. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 5.
What planting zone is Provo in?
USDA hardiness zone 6b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Provo?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Provo?
Around October 21 in a typical year, and before October 7 about 1 year in 10.