When to plant beets in Utah
Utah’s average last spring frost is May 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 5 — about 153 frost-free days (USDA zones 4a, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8a, 9a). Beet needs 50–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Utah's growing season.
Utah covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant beets in Utah: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 2 – Apr 21. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Utah: Apr 25 · May 13 · May 31
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow beets in Utah, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Apr 2 – Apr 21). Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, sowing seed 0.75 inch deep. It handles frost well, so it can go out before the last frost date. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Utah.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: leaf miner, flea beetle, aphids. Diseases and disorders: cercospora leaf spot, scab, damping off.
- Harvest (from about May 27 – Jun 16). Beet takes 50-70 days to reach harvest. Each wrinkled 'seed' is a cluster of 2-4 seedlings - thin to one or transplant the extras while tiny. Thinnings are edible greens.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Utah’s average frost dates. More in the full beet growing guide.
Beet planting dates by USDA zone in Utah
Utah spans USDA zones 4a, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8a, 9a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the beet dates shift with them.
When to plant beets in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Utah ask
When is the best time to plant beets in Utah?
Sow beets in Utah between April 2 and April 21. That timing is set by Utah's average last spring frost of May 5; Utah spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Utah?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 24 and August 10, so the crop matures in cool weather before Utah's first frost around October 5.
When will beets planted in Utah be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, beets are usually ready from about May 27 to June 16, 50-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Utah?
On average around May 5, with the first fall frost around October 5 - about 153 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.