How Much Insulation Does a Home in Utah Need?
Utah has no single insulation number because it doesn’t sit in a single climate zone.
Gardening in Utah
Everything we have worked out for Utah: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Salt Lake City, the last spring freeze runs April 12 to April 29 and the first fall freeze runs October 18 to October 29, USDA zones 4a-9a, 3,551 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Utah: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When Can You Turn the Heat Off in Utah?
September gives Utah homeowners the closest thing to a break between the furnace and the air conditioner, but calling it a shutdown window overstates…
Will Sweet Corn Ripen in Utah?
Yes, sweet corn can ripen in Utah, but the growing season here is shorter than most gardeners assume once soil temperature is factored in, not just air…
When to Sow Sweet Corn in Utah
Sweet corn goes in the ground in Utah once soil warms past 60°F, which typically happens weeks after the last spring frost has passed.
When to Sow Autumn Spinach in Utah
In Utah, spinach goes into the ground twice a year: a short spring run sown two to three weeks before the last frost (April 12 to April 29 at the Salt…
Will Spinach Bolt Early in Utah?
Spinach bolts early almost everywhere in Utah, and the trigger isn’t really the heat wave you’d expect.
When to Sow Parsnips in Utah
Sow parsnips in Utah two to three weeks before the last spring frost, which lands between April 12 and April 29 depending on where in the state you garden.
Will Parsnips Sweeten in Utah?
Yes, in most of Utah, parsnips will sweeten. The state’s winters bring the kind of sustained, repeated frost exposure that converts stored starch into…
Will Utah Soil Hold an Asparagus Bed for Fifteen Years?
Utah’s dominant garden soil, the Mivida series, drains well by nature: 72 percent sand keeps water moving through rather than pooling around the crowns.
When to Plant Asparagus Crowns in Utah
Plant asparagus crowns in Utah in early spring, timed to your local last frost window rather than a fixed date.