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When to Plant Horehound in Box Elder County, UT

Horehound is a woolly, drought-tolerant perennial herb traditionally used for cough remedies and candy. It has a distinctive bitter, menthol-like flavor.

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 Horehound 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) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 29
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 29 🍅 Harvest: Aug 14 – Oct 9
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 17 🍅 Harvest: Sep 2 – Oct 28

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
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Horehound needs ~1,258 GDD — county provides 2,043 GDD Excellent fit

Horehound Planting Timeline โ€” Box Elder County, UT

Horehound Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 29 May 29 โ€“ Jun 12
Harvest August 14 Aug 14 โ€“ Oct 9

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Transplant Outdoors
June Transplant Outdoors
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

Days to Maturity

75โ€“90 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 8

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

134 days

Growing Tips for Box Elder County

Direct sow or start from divisions. Thrives in poor, dry soil. Harvest stems just before flowering. Deadhead to prevent aggressive self-seeding. Very drought-tolerant once established.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Box Elder County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 22. Plan your Horehound 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.

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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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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.