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When to Plant Peppers in Utah County, UT

Sweet peppers are warm-season crops producing fruits in a rainbow of colors. They turn from green to red, yellow, or orange as they ripen, increasing in sweetness.

Utah County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost is October 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 159 days.

At an elevation of 5,535 feet, Utah County receives approximately 22.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Peppers during the growing season.

Utah County, UT (Zone 6a) Moderate season
159 days
Last Spring Frost May 5
159 growing days
First Fall Frost October 11

Utah County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (14 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Sep 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 22 Transplant: Jun 14 🍅 Harvest: Aug 16 – Oct 25

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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 707 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Peppers needs ~1,088 GDD — county provides 2,305 GDD Excellent fit

Peppers Planting Timeline โ€” Utah County, UT

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 24 Feb 24 โ€“ Mar 10
Transplant Outdoors May 19 May 19 โ€“ Jun 2
Direct Sow May 12 May 12 โ€“ Jun 2
Harvest July 21 Jul 21 โ€“ Sep 29

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

159 days

Growing Tips for Utah County

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant when nighttime temperatures stay above 55F. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which promote leaves over fruit.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel
  • Kohlrabi

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Peppers Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Remove seeds from fully ripe (red/orange) fruit.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35ยฐF, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 300 ft for purity. Hot and sweet peppers can cross-pollinate.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Peppers in Utah County, UT?

Utah County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 5. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Utah County, UT?

Utah County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 5 and first fall frost is October 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Utah County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Utah County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.