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When to Plant Radicchio in Daggett County, UT

Daggett County, Utah Zone 5b May

Daggett County, Utah gardeners: here's your May plan

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

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost October 1
Soil temp (4") 32°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Get radicchio in the ground

    Pinch off the lowest leaves on each seedling before you plant — it reduces water loss while the roots catch up.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: radicchio

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Radicchio is an Italian chicory with stunning red and white leaves and a pleasantly bitter flavor. It forms tight heads and is used in salads, grilled, or braised.

Daggett County, Utah is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 141 days.

At an elevation of 7,540 feet, Daggett County receives approximately 14.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Radicchio to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Radicchio successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Daggett County, UT (Zone 5b) Short season
141 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
141 growing days
First Fall Frost October 1

Daggett County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (42 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Aug 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (43 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 13 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Aug 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (33 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Sep 16

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 Daggett County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–8.4) is more alkaline than Radicchio prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Daggett County is excellent for Radicchio — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Radicchio.

How to Plant Radicchio

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 Radicchio

2
successive plantings in your 141-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 23.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 399 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Radicchio

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

Month Radicchio Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 1.7" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 0.9" 2.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 1.3" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3" 1.3" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3" 1.4" 1.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 3" 1.5" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Radicchio 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.

Radicchio needs ~805 GDD — county provides 1,621 GDD Excellent fit

Radicchio Planting Timeline — Daggett County, UT

Radicchio Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 13 May 13 – May 27
Direct Sow April 29 Apr 29 – May 20
Harvest July 15 Jul 15 – Aug 19
Fall Sowing July 23 Jul 23 – Aug 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

141 days in Daggett County

Growing Tips for Radicchio in Daggett County

Direct sow Radicchio outdoors after May 13 in Daggett County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Start in late summer for fall harvest. The red color develops with cool nights and light frost. Harvest when heads are firm and compact.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Radicchio in Daggett County, UT?

Daggett County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Radicchio planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Daggett County, UT?

Daggett County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is October 1.

🌱

Your Daggett County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Daggett County (Zone 5b). 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 Daggett 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.