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When to Plant Sweet Pea in Juab County, UT

Juab County, Utah Zone 6b June

Your June planting checklist for Juab County, Utah

A quick June briefing for Juab County, Utah gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 44°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.8 hrs

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Sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are beloved cool-season climbing annuals grown primarily for their intensely fragrant, ruffled blooms in shades of pink, purple, red, and white. They thrive in cool spring conditions, climbing trellises to 4–6 feet, and make outstanding cut flowers. Bloom ceases once summer heat arrives, making early sowing critical for a long cutting season.

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 Sweet Pea to ensure they mature before fall.

Annual Blooms in Spring Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting Fragrant
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

Sweet Pea Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 31 Transplant: May 12 🌸 Bloom: Jul 28 – Oct 6
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 19 🌸 Bloom: Aug 4 – Oct 13
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 28 Transplant: Jun 9 🌸 Bloom: Aug 25 – Nov 3

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 Sweet Pea's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.6) overlaps with Sweet Pea's range (7.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help Sweet Pea.

How to Plant Sweet Pea

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

Succession Planting Sweet Pea

2
successive plantings in your 136-day season

Sow every 7.4 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 09 to harvest before frost.

Sweet Pea 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 Sweet Pea

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

Month Sweet Pea 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.

Sweet Pea 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.

Sweet Pea needs ~975 GDD — county provides 1,768 GDD Excellent fit

Sweet Pea Planting Timeline — Juab County, UT

Sweet Pea Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 7 Apr 7 – Apr 21
Transplant Outdoors May 19 May 19 – Jun 2
Direct Sow April 14 Apr 14 – May 5
Bloom August 4 Aug 4 – Oct 13

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 Transplant Outdoors
July
August Bloom
September Bloom
October Bloom
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

65–85 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 7–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

136 days in Juab County

Growing Tips for Sweet Pea in Juab County

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

Common pests for Sweet Pea 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. Sweet Pea needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Soak seeds 24 hours before sowing to soften the hard seed coat; nick the seed coat with a file for the fastest germination. In cold zones (2–6), direct-sow as soon as soil can be worked, 4–6 weeks before last frost; seedlings tolerate light frost but not a hard freeze. In zones 7–9, fall-sow 8–10 weeks before first frost for earlier, stronger spring bloom. Provide a trellis or netting from the start. Feed with low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer once buds form. Pick blooms regularly — even one mature seed pod stops flower production. All plant parts are mildly toxic if eaten.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Sweet Pea in Juab County, UT?

Juab County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 19. Plan your Sweet Pea 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 22-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: June 2026.

Sources & credits

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