Salt Lake City, Utah planting calendar and frost dates
Salt Lake City is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 8 and the first fall frost around October 31, giving about 204 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 8
- Typical first frost
- October 31
- Frost-free season
- 204 days
Frost dates in Salt Lake City
Last spring frost
- March 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 30Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 17Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 31Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 13Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 204 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 15 and returns around November 10.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Salt Lake City International Airport, 4.3 miles WNW 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 Salt Lake City
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, 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: brussels sprouts
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Salt Lake City
All 4 of Salt Lake City's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Salt Lake City International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6b in 84103, 84108, and 7b in 84104, 84116.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84103 | 6b | Salt Lake City International Airport, 4.3 mi WNW | Apr 8 | Oct 31 |
| 84104 | 7b | Salt Lake City International Airport, 4.3 mi WNW | Apr 8 | Oct 31 |
| 84108 | 6b | Salt Lake City International Airport, 4.3 mi WNW | Apr 8 | Oct 31 |
| 84116 | 7b | Salt Lake City International Airport, 4.3 mi WNW | Apr 8 | Oct 31 |
Salt Lake City International Airport also supplies the frost dates for West Valley City, West Jordan, Millcreek, Taylorsville and Murray, so their planting calendars match Salt Lake City's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Salt Lake City
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 11 to 25 | Apr 1 to 15 | Aug 1 to Sep 5 |
| Cilantro | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
| Onions | Dec 17 to Jan 28 | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| 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 18 to Apr 8 | Aug 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 21 to Feb 11 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Peas | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Aug 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 | Aug 22 to Sep 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 8 to 29 | — |
| Zinnias | May 15 to 22 | Jun 12 to 26 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 19 to Nov 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 19 to Oct 31 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
Nearby cities
- West Valley City, UT zone 7b, last frost Apr 8
- Millcreek, UT zone 6b, last frost Apr 8
- Taylorsville, UT zone 7b, last frost Apr 8
- Murray, UT zone 7b, last frost Apr 8
- West Jordan, UT zone 7b, last frost Apr 8
- Sandy, UT zone 6b, last frost Jun 11
Planting in UtahAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Salt Lake City
Questions
When is the last frost in Salt Lake City?
Around April 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Salt Lake City International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 30.
What planting zone is Salt Lake City in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6b and 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Salt Lake City?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Salt Lake City?
Around October 31 in a typical year, and before October 17 about 1 year in 10.