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When to Plant Fava Beans in Juab County, UT

Juab County, Utah Zone 6b May

Top priorities for Juab County, Utah gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 34°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Move fava beans from tray to bed

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

  2. Put fava beans seeds straight in the ground

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

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: fava beans

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Fava beans are a cool-season legume with large, meaty beans inside thick pods. They fix nitrogen in the soil and are one of the oldest cultivated crops.

Juab County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 8,143 feet, Juab County receives approximately 23.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Fava Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Juab County, UT (Zone 6b) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
136 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2

Juab County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Sep 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 5 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 25 – Oct 6

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 Juab County

How your county's soil matches Fava Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.6) is more alkaline than Fava Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Juab County is excellent for Fava Beans — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help Fava Beans.

How to Plant Fava Beans

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

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

Succession Planting Fava Beans

2
successive plantings in your 136-day season

Sow every 8.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 24.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 407 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Fava Beans

Fava Beans needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Fava Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Fava Beans 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.

Fava Beans needs ~1,138 GDD — county provides 1,768 GDD Excellent fit

Fava Beans Planting Timeline — Juab County, UT

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 14 Apr 14 – Apr 28
Transplant Outdoors May 19 May 19 – Jun 2
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 – May 26
Harvest August 4 Aug 4 – Sep 15
Fall Sowing July 24 Jul 24 – Aug 7

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

75–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Juab County

Growing Tips for Fava Beans in Juab County

Direct sow Fava Beans outdoors after May 19 in Juab County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Fava Beans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Juab County receives only 23" of rain annually. Fava Beans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Direct sow as early as soil can be worked in spring. Pinch growing tips when pods begin to form to redirect energy and reduce aphid problems. Stake tall varieties.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Fava Beans in Juab County, UT?

Juab County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 19. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Juab County, UT?

Juab County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is October 2.

🌱

Your Juab County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Juab 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 Juab 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.