When to Sow Beets in Utah
Beet seed goes into Utah ground about two to three weeks before the last spring frost.
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.
Beet Soil in Utah: What the Root Will Meet
Utah’s benchmark soil, the Mivida series, is sandy and alkaline, draining fast and holding little organic matter.
Growing Carrots in Utah: Soil, Sowing and Forked Roots
Utah’s representative topsoil runs sandy and alkaline, which sounds like decent news for a root crop that hates heavy ground.
Growing Beets in Utah: Soil, Sowing and Bolting
Beets grow fine in Utah if you work around two separate problems: soil that’s alkaline, sandy and quick to dry out, and a narrow spring window that sits…
Why Peppers Fail to Set Fruit in Utah
Peppers in Utah often set flowers just fine but never turn those flowers into fruit. The reason is usually temperature, not soil or fertilizer.
When to Plant Potatoes in Utah: Counting Back From Your Last Frost
For Salt Lake City, the reference station in NOAA’s 1991-2020 Climate Normals, the last spring frost falls somewhere between April 12 and April 29 (NOAA…
Potato Varieties That Suit Utah
Early and mid-season varieties are the ones that actually finish in Utah, because the state’s growing window is short and its summer soil runs hot.
What to Plant in Utah in September
September is prime time for fall greens and root crops in Utah, not for anything that needs a full summer.
What to Plant in Utah in October
Garlic goes in the ground, spring bulbs get tucked into cooling soil, and the last winter squash comes off the vine before frost claims it.
What to Plant in Utah in November
Utah’s growing season is effectively closed by November across most of the state: the first fall frost has typically already landed weeks earlier.