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Frost dates and planting calendar for Sandy, Utah
- USDA hardiness zone
- 7b[1]
- Median last spring frost
- Apr 29[2]
- Median first fall frost
- Oct 22[3]
- Growing season, median
- 174 days[4]
The USDA map puts the center of Sandy, Utah in zone 7b[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearby NOAA station is April 29[2].
Frost dates
These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Cottonwood Weir station near Sandy[5]. They use records from 1991 to 2020, so they are odds and not promises. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 29, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 30[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 22, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 6[3]. The growing season is at least 174 days in half of years[4].
| Frost | Likely (9 in 10 years) | Even odds (5 in 10) | Unlikely (1 in 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last spring frost (32°F)[2] | after April 10 | after April 29 | after May 30 |
| First fall frost (32°F)[3] | before October 6 | before October 22 | before November 7 |
- Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 12, median first fall date November 1[7].
- Frost-free growing season: at least 143 days in 9 of 10 years, 174 days in half of years and 200 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
- The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
- Weather station: Cottonwood Weir (USC00421759), 4.8 miles from the city center, 4,986 feet, 26 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].
When to plant vegetables
Colorado State University Extension's planting guide was written for Colorado, so treat these dates as a starting point[6]. GardenFacts takes the median last frost, April 29, as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that, which is April 1 to April 15[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before, which is April 15[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around April 29[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so May 13 is the earliest start[11].
- Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 29) is April 1 to April 15[6]
- Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 29) is April 15, up to the median date itself[9]
- Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 29[10]
- Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 29), is May 13[11]
| Vegetable (CSU group) | Plant from | First harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | Jun 5 (from transplants) |
| Cabbage (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | Jun 25 (from transplants) |
| Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | May 21 |
| Lettuce (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | May 31 |
| Onions (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | Jul 20 |
| Peas (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | Jun 5 |
| Radishes (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | May 1 |
| Spinach (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | May 11 |
| Turnips (hardy)[12] | Apr 1 | May 21 |
| Beets (semi-hardy)[12] | Apr 15 | Jun 14 |
| Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] | Apr 15 | Jun 24 |
| Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] | Apr 15 | not listed |
| Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] | Apr 15 | Jun 24 |
| Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] | Apr 15 | Aug 18 |
| Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] | Apr 15 | Jun 14 |
| Snap beans (tender)[12] | Apr 29 | Jun 28 |
| Sweet corn (tender)[12] | Apr 29 | Jun 28 |
| Cucumbers (tender)[12] | Apr 29 | Jun 23 |
| Summer squash (tender)[12] | Apr 29 | Jun 18 |
| Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] | May 13 | Aug 6 |
| Eggplant (very tender)[12] | May 13 | Jul 12 (from transplants) |
| Peppers (very tender)[12] | May 13 | Jul 22 (from transplants) |
| Tomatoes (very tender)[12] | May 13 | Jul 17 (from transplants) |
| Winter squash (very tender)[12] | May 13 | Aug 21 |
| Watermelon (very tender)[12] | May 13 | Aug 6 |
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
| Vegetable | Min. soil temp | Depth | Spacing | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli[13] | 40°F | 1/2 in | 18 in | 65 |
| Cabbage[13] | 40°F | 1/2 in | 18 in | 85 |
| Kohlrabi[13] | 40°F | 1/2 in | 7-9 in | 50 |
| Lettuce[13] | 35°F | 1/4 in | 7-9 in | 60 |
| Onions[13] | 35°F | 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) | 4-6 in | 110 |
| Peas[13] | 40°F | 1 in | 4-6 in | 65 |
| Radishes[13] | 40°F | 1/2 in | 2-3 in | 30 |
| Spinach[13] | 40°F | 1/2 in | 4-6 in | 40 |
| Turnips[13] | 40°F | 1/2 in | 4-6 in | 50 |
| Beets[13] | 40°F | 3/4-1 in | 4-6 in | 60 |
| Carrots[13] | 40°F | 1/4 in | 2-3 in | 70 |
| Cauliflower[13] | 40°F | 1/2 in | 18 in | – |
| Parsnips[13] | 35°F | 1/2 in | 5-6 in | 70 |
| Potatoes[13] | 45°F | – | – | 125 |
| Swiss chard[13] | 40°F | 1 in | 7-9 in | 60 |
| Snap beans[13] | 55°F | 1-1 1/2 in | 6 in | 60 |
| Sweet corn[13] | 50°F | 1-1 1/2 in | 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in | 60-90 |
| Cucumbers[13] | 60°F | 1 in | 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised | 55 |
| Summer squash[13] | 60°F | 1-1 1/2 in | 36-48 in | 50 |
| Cantaloupe[13] | 60°F | 1-1 1/2 in | 36-48 in | 85 |
| Eggplant[13] | 60°F | 1/4 in | 18-24 in | 60 |
| Peppers[13] | 60°F | 1/4 in | 15-18 in | 70 |
| Tomatoes[13] | 50°F | 1/4 in | 24 in trellised | 65 |
| Winter squash[13] | 60°F | 1-1 1/2 in | 36-48 in | 100 |
| Watermelon[13] | 60°F | 1-1 1/2 in | 36-48 in | 85 |
Hardiness zone
A zone number comes from the average coldest night of each winter from 1991 to 2020, not from summer heat or frost dates[14]. Zone 7b means an average yearly low of 5°F to 10°F[1]. Sandy is not all one zone. By land area, 62% lies in ZIP code areas rated 7b and 38% in areas rated 6b[15].
Questions people ask
- What growing zone is Sandy, Utah?
- The center of Sandy is in USDA zone 7b[1]. By land area, 62% of the city is in 7b ZIP code areas and 38% is in 6b ZIP code areas[15].
- When is the last frost in Sandy?
- The median last spring frost is April 29[2]. In 9 of 10 years it comes after April 10, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 30[2].
- When to plant tomatoes in Sandy?
- CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, so the earliest start is May 13[11]. The guide was written for Colorado[11].
Facts and sources
- The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Sandy, Utah in zone 7b. Zone 7b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 5°F to 10°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 6.1°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
- Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 10, in half of years after April 29, and in 1 of 10 years after May 30 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 29. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
- First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 6, in half of years before October 22, and in 9 of 10 years before November 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 22. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
- Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 143 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 174 days in half of years, and at least 200 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
- Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Cottonwood Weir weather station (USC00421759), 4.8 miles from the center of Sandy at 4,986 feet, using 26 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
- Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
- Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 12 and the median first fall date is November 1. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
- At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
- Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
- Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
- Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
- GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
- CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
- USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- Sandy, Utah overlaps 6 ZIP code areas. By land area, 62% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7b, 38% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.