What to plant this week in Salt Lake City, UT
With average last frost dates now settled around March 28, Salt Lake City gardeners are officially in full swing for warm-season crops as soil temperatures rise above the zone's 5°F winter lows. This week is critical for getting your bush beans, zucchini, and squash into the ground before any lingering late spring chills can halt growth.
The next 7 days
Salt Lake City, UTGrowing in Salt Lake City right now
- Salt Lake's high desert elevation creates a short growing window; prioritize quick-maturing varieties like French Marigolds and Bush Beans to avoid fall frost risks by mid-November.
- The city's characteristic alkaline, clay-heavy soils often struggle with drainage during our intense spring rainstorms; amend beds with compost or use raised mounds for squash and melons.
- Wind speeds pick up rapidly after the March 28 average last frost date, so secure tall crops like Sunflowers and Pole Beans against gusts that are common in this valley basin.
Sow this week
4 crops- Bush Bean
- French Marigold
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
37 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession sowing with Pole Beans or Peas every two weeks for a continuous supply of fresh pods.
- Pinch back the tops of Basil to encourage bushier growth before the heat sets in.
- Apply a light layer of compost around harvested crops to replenish soil nutrients.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are becoming active on young vegetables as humidity drops in our dry spring air; inspect the undersides of leaves regularly.
- Aphids frequently colonize the new growth on early-transplanted Zinnias and Cosmos, requiring timely organic sprays or insecticidal soap.
- Late-spring flea beetles often attack Brassicas if you have them nearby, though they are less common this week compared to leafhoppers which can transmit viruses.
Watering this week
Provide about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, ensuring deep watering during hot afternoons.
Harvest Basil in the morning when essential oils are most concentrated for peak flavor.
Salt Lake City gardening questions
3Can I transplant my seedlings now that the last frost average is March 28?
Technically, waiting a few weeks past the March 28 date ensures your tender plants won't suffer from unexpected night dips near our zone minimum of 5°F. While you could try hardening off earlier, it is safer to wait until soil warmth stabilizes for transplants.
How do I handle Salt Lake's alkaline soil for my summer squash and zucchini?
Test your pH and amend heavily with organic compost or peat moss to lower the alkalinity that can lock out nutrients in our clay-loam mix. Raised beds are also an excellent strategy here to bypass native soil issues entirely this season.
What is the best way to water my new corn and beans given our spring rainfall patterns?
Our springs often bring intense, short-duration thunderstorms followed by dry periods, so check moisture levels twice a week rather than watering daily. Mulch heavily around the base of your Sweet Corn and Bush Beans to retain moisture between these erratic rain events.
Other cities in zone 7b
12See the full zone 7b guide → · Plan your Salt Lake City garden in SproutGuide →