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When to Plant Arugula in Emery County, UT

Emery County, Utah Zone 6a July

July to-do list for Emery County, Utah

July is a pivotal month for Emery County, Utah gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 11
Avg. first frost October 4
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Bring in the arugula

    The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.

  2. Get arugula in for a late-season harvest

    Mid-season soil is hot. Sow a bit deeper than the packet suggests to find cooler, damper ground.

August prep starts now
  • First harvests: arugula

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Arugula is a fast-growing cool-season green with a peppery, nutty flavor. It is excellent in salads and can be harvested as baby greens or mature leaves.

Emery County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 146 days.

At an elevation of 7,259 feet, Emery County receives approximately 15.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Arugula during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Arugula successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Emery County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
146 days
Last Spring Frost May 11
146 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4

Emery County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Arugula Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (51 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Aug 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (37 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 28 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Sep 8

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 Emery County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.9) is more alkaline than Arugula prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). Annual compost additions will help Arugula.

How to Plant Arugula

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 Arugula

5
successive plantings in your 146-day season

Sow every 3.4 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 15 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 26.

Arugula Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 236 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Arugula

Arugula needs approximately 0.6 inches of water per week (2.6" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Arugula Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.6" 2" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 2.6" 1.1" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.6" 1.4" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.6" 1.6" 1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.6" 1.1" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.6" 1.5" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Arugula 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.

Arugula needs ~550 GDD — county provides 2,007 GDD Excellent fit

Arugula Planting Timeline — Emery County, UT

Arugula Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 6 Apr 6 – Apr 20
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 – May 25
Direct Sow April 27 Apr 27 – May 18
Harvest June 15 Jun 15 – Aug 17
Fall Sowing July 26 Jul 26 – Aug 9

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 Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.6"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

30–50 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

146 days in Emery County

Growing Tips for Arugula in Emery County

Direct sow Arugula outdoors after May 11 in Emery County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 146.0-day season in Emery County allows multiple plantings of Arugula. Sow every 15.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Arugula in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Sow seeds directly every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. Provide afternoon shade in warm weather to prevent bolting. Harvest outer leaves first to extend production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Strawberries

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Arugula in Emery County, UT?

Emery County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 11. Plan your Arugula planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Emery County, UT?

Emery County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 11 and first fall frost is October 4.

🌱

Your Emery County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Emery County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Emery County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: July 2026.

Sources & credits

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