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When to Plant Tomatoes in Daggett County, UT

Daggett County, Utah Zone 5b May

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

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Daggett County, Utah.

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. Move tomatoes into the garden

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Scatter tomatoes into prepared beds

    Rake a smooth bed, make a shallow furrow, drop seeds at the spacing on the packet, water gently, walk away.

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Tomatoes are the most popular home garden crop, available in thousands of varieties from tiny cherries to massive beefsteaks. They are warm-season plants needing full sun.

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 Tomatoes to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Tomatoes 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) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 20 – Sep 28
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: May 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 29 – Oct 7
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 15 Transplant: Jun 24 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Nov 4

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 Tomatoes's growing requirements.

Soil pH

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

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Tomatoes

0.5"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
36"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Tomatoes

2
successive plantings in your 141-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 08 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.2″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,152 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Tomatoes

Tomatoes needs approximately 1.2 inches of water per week (5.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Tomatoes 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 5.2" 1.7" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 5.2" 0.9" 4.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 5.2" 1.3" 3.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 5.2" 1.3" 3.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 5.2" 1.4" 3.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 5.2" 1.5" 3.7" 🚿 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.

Tomatoes 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.

Tomatoes needs ~834 GDD — county provides 1,621 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline — Daggett County, UT

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 18 Mar 18 – Apr 1
Transplant Outdoors May 27 May 27 – Jun 10
Direct Sow May 20 May 20 – Jun 10
Harvest July 29 Jul 29 – Oct 7

Plant 0.5" deep · 24" apart · Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.2"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–85 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

141 days in Daggett County

Growing Tips for Tomatoes in Daggett County

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

Common pests for Tomatoes in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Daggett County receives only 15" of rain annually. Tomatoes needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Bury transplants deep to encourage rooting along the stem. Provide consistent moisture to prevent blossom end rot and cracking.

Recommended Tomatoes Varieties for Daggett County

Choose determinate, early-maturing varieties for your short season

Early Girl (52d) Stupice (55d) Glacier (55d) Sub Arctic Plenty (45d)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Cabbage
  • Fennel
  • Potatoes

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Tomatoes Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Scoop seeds from ripe fruit; ferment 2-3 days to remove gel coating.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4-6 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Isolate 25 ft between varieties for purity. Use open-pollinated varieties for true-to-type seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tomatoes in Daggett County, UT?

Daggett County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Tomatoes 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.