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When to Plant Endive in Box Elder County, UT

Box Elder County, Utah Zone 6b May

Your May planting checklist for Box Elder County, Utah

Each item below is timed to Box Elder County, Utah's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 22
Avg. first frost October 3
Soil temp (4") 50°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Plant out endive

    Harden off for 7 days — a little more sun each day — before planting. That's the difference between a seedling that thrives and one that stalls.

  2. Direct-sow endive

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • Starting indoors: endive

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Endive is a leafy green with a slightly bitter flavor, available in curly (frisee) and broad-leaved (escarole) types. It adds texture and complexity to salads.

Box Elder County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6b. 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 87°F, providing good warmth for Endive during the growing season.

Box Elder County, UT (Zone 6b) Short season
134 days
Last Spring Frost May 22
134 growing days
First Fall Frost October 3
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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 (51 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 30 – Aug 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (50 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 17 Transplant: May 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Aug 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (52 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Sep 2

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 Box Elder County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.9) is more alkaline than Endive prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Box Elder County is excellent for Endive — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help Endive.

How to Plant Endive

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Endive

3
successive plantings in your 134-day season

Sow every 5.1 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 30 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 25.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/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 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Endive

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

Month Endive Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 2.4" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.7" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Jul 3" 2.4" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 3" 2.8" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 1.8" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 3" 2.4" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Box Elder County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Endive 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Endive needs ~839 GDD — county provides 2,043 GDD Excellent fit

Endive Planting Timeline — Box Elder County, UT

Endive Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 17 Apr 17 – May 1
Transplant Outdoors May 22 May 22 – Jun 5
Direct Sow May 8 May 8 – May 29
Harvest July 10 Jul 10 – Aug 14
Fall Sowing July 25 Jul 25 – Aug 8

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

45–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

134 days in Box Elder County

Growing Tips for Endive in Box Elder County

Direct sow Endive outdoors after May 22 in Box Elder County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Endive in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Sow seeds directly in spring or fall. Blanch heads by tying outer leaves together 2-3 weeks before harvest to reduce bitterness. Keep soil evenly moist.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Box Elder County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 22. Plan your Endive planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Box Elder County, UT?

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

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Your Box Elder County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Box Elder County (Zone 6b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.