When to plant swiss chard 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). Swiss Chard needs 50–60 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 swiss chard in Utah: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Apr 14 – May 1, with seeds started indoors Mar 31 – Apr 14. Seeds germinate in soil from 40 to 85°F.
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 swiss chard in Utah, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Mar 31 – Apr 14). Sow seeds 0.75 inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-14 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 70°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs 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.
- Plant out (Apr 14 – May 1). Space plants about 9 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. 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, aphids, flea beetle. Diseases and disorders: cercospora leaf spot, downy mildew.
- Harvest (from about Jun 10 – Jun 20). Swiss Chard takes 50-60 days to reach harvest. One of the most heat-tolerant leafy greens - a single spring sowing usually carries through summer into fall if kept picked.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Utah’s average frost dates. More in the full swiss chard growing guide.
Swiss Chard 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 swiss chard dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant swiss chard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 | May 10 | Sep 25 | 135 days | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Apr 19 – May 6 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Apr 9 – Apr 26 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Jan 30 – Feb 16 |
When to plant swiss chard in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Utah ask
When is the best time to plant swiss chard in Utah?
Plant swiss chard transplants outdoors in Utah between April 14 and May 1. 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.
When should I start swiss chard seeds indoors in Utah?
Start seeds indoors between March 31 and April 14, about 4 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from April 14.
Can I plant swiss chard in the fall in Utah?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 17 and August 3, so the crop matures in cool weather before Utah's first frost around October 5.
When will swiss chard planted in Utah be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, swiss chard is usually ready from about June 10 to June 20, 50-60 days after planting.
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.