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When to Plant Cress in Box Elder County, UT

Garden cress is one of the fastest-growing edibles, producing peppery sprouts in as little as two weeks. It is excellent for microgreens and garnishes.

Box Elder County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 22 and the first fall frost is October 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 134 days.

At an elevation of 4,039 feet, Box Elder County receives approximately 24.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Cress during the growing season.

Box Elder County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
134 days
Last Spring Frost May 22
134 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3

Box Elder County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (100 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jun 16
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (99 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 17 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jun 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (101 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Jul 15

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 332 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Cress needs ~267 GDD — county provides 2,043 GDD Excellent fit

Cress Planting Timeline โ€” Box Elder County, UT

Cress Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 17 Apr 17 โ€“ May 1
Transplant Outdoors May 22 May 22 โ€“ Jun 5
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 โ€“ May 29
Fall Sowing July 25 Jul 25 โ€“ Aug 8
Harvest June 5 Jun 5 โ€“ Jun 26

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 2" apart ยท Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors
May Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Harvest
July Fall Sowing
August Fall Sowing
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

14โ€“21 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

134 days

Growing Tips for Box Elder County

Sow seeds thickly on moist soil or paper towels. Keep moist and harvest when 2-3 inches tall. Succession sow every few days for continuous supply. Grows well indoors year-round.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cress in Box Elder County, UT?

Box Elder County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 22. Plan your Cress planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Box Elder County, UT?

Box Elder County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 22 and first fall frost is October 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Box Elder County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Box Elder County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.