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When to Plant Mint in Millard County, UT

Mint is a vigorous perennial herb with refreshing, aromatic leaves used in teas, cocktails, and cooking. It spreads aggressively by underground runners.

Millard County, Utah is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 6,525 feet, Millard County receives approximately 24 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Mint to ensure they mature before fall.

Millard County, UT (Zone 5b) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30

Millard County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 24
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Oct 3
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Oct 27

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.

Soil Compatibility in Millard County

How your county's soil matches Mint's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5โ€“8.0) is more alkaline than Mint prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Millard County is excellent for Mint โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Mint.

How to Plant Mint

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Mint

2
successive plantings in your 137-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 02 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Mint

Mint needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mint Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 3" 2.7" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 3" 1.7" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 3" 2.1" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3" 2.2" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3" 2" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Millard County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Mint Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Mint needs ~975 GDD — county provides 1,781 GDD Excellent fit

Mint Planting Timeline โ€” Millard County, UT

Mint Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 23 May 23 โ€“ Jun 6
Harvest July 25 Jul 25 โ€“ Oct 3

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 Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.7"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

137 days in Millard County

Growing Tips for Mint in Millard County

Direct sow Mint outdoors after May 16 in Millard County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Always grow mint in containers or with underground barriers to control spreading. Harvest regularly to keep plants compact. Cut plants back in late summer for a fresh fall flush.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Parsley

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mint in Millard County, UT?

Millard County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Mint planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Millard County, UT?

Millard County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is September 30.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Millard County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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 Millard County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.