Salt Lake City, UT Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Salt Lake City garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 31
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 8
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
222 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
7a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 7 Mar 31 Apr 19
First fall frost Nov 25 Nov 8 Oct 23
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 8 · first Nov 18

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Salt Lake Triad Ctr station (1 km from central Salt Lake City). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Salt Lake City

Computed from Salt Lake City's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-7 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 3 – Feb 17 Apr 7 – Apr 14
🫑 Peppers Jan 20 – Feb 3 Apr 14 – Apr 21
🥬 Lettuce Feb 17 – Mar 3 Mar 3 – Mar 17 Mar 3 – Mar 31
🫛 Peas Feb 17 – Mar 3
🥕 Carrots Mar 10 – Mar 31
🥦 Broccoli Feb 10 – Feb 24 Mar 10 – Mar 24
🥬 Kale Feb 17 – Mar 3 Mar 3 – Mar 17 Mar 3 – Mar 17
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 3 – Mar 10 Apr 7 – Apr 14 Apr 7 – Apr 14
🥒 Zucchini Mar 3 – Mar 10 Apr 7 – Apr 14 Apr 7 – Apr 14
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 7 – Apr 14
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 7 – Apr 14
🌿 Basil Feb 17 – Mar 3 Apr 7 – Apr 14 Apr 14 – Apr 21
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 27 – Oct 25

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Salt Lake City's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Salt Lake City

With roughly 222 frost-free days, Salt Lake City gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 8 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Salt Lake City, UT?

The average last spring frost in Salt Lake City is around Mar 31, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Salt Lake City, UT?

The average first fall frost in Salt Lake City arrives around Nov 8. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Salt Lake City?

About 222 frost-free days on average, from Mar 31 to Nov 8. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Salt Lake City in?

USDA zone 7a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.