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When to Plant Celosia in Kane County, UT

Kane County, Utah Zone 6a June

June in the garden — Kane County, Utah

Your garden in Kane County, Utah is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this June.

Avg. last frost May 13
Avg. first frost October 7
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering High
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: celosia

    These need a head start before your last frost (May 13). Sow into cells now so you're ready to transplant in a few weeks.

Looking ahead to July
  • First harvests: celosia

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Celosia (Celosia argentea) encompasses the vivid cockscomb (cristata) and feathery plumed (plumosa) types that explode with color in summer heat. Drought-tolerant and disease-resistant, they thrive in the hottest parts of the season and produce long-lasting blooms both in the garden and as cut or dried flowers. A reliable filler in sunny annual beds.

Kane County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 147 days.

At an elevation of 5,900 feet, Kane County receives approximately 19.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Celosia during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Celosia successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Annual Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Kane County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
147 days
Last Spring Frost May 13
147 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7

Kane County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Celosia Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🌸 Bloom: Jul 13 – Oct 26
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Apr 8 Transplant: May 20 🌸 Bloom: Jul 22 – Nov 4
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 2 Transplant: Jun 13 🌸 Bloom: Aug 15 – Nov 28

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 Kane County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–8.1) is more alkaline than Celosia prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Celosia

0.1"
Planting Depth
9"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Celosia

2
successive plantings in your 147-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 09 to harvest before frost.

Celosia Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Celosia

Celosia needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celosia Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.2" 2.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 1.5" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Celosia 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.

Celosia needs ~1,312 GDD — county provides 2,572 GDD Excellent fit

Celosia Planting Timeline — Kane County, UT

Celosia Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 8 Apr 8 – Apr 22
Transplant Outdoors May 20 May 20 – Jun 3
Direct Sow May 20 May 20 – Jun 10
Bloom July 22 Jul 22 – Nov 4

Plant 0.1" deep · 9" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

147 days in Kane County

Growing Tips for Celosia in Kane County

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

Kane County receives only 20" of rain annually. Celosia needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost, or direct-sow after soil warms above 60°F. Does not transplant well from large pots — sow in small cells or direct-sow. Needs full sun and warm soil; cold stress causes stunting. Pinch first bloom to encourage branching. Water at the base; wet foliage encourages fungal issues. Excellent dried flower — harvest before seeds set for the best color retention.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celosia in Kane County, UT?

Kane County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 13. Plan your Celosia planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kane County, UT?

Kane County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 13 and first fall frost is October 7.

🌱

Your Kane County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Kane 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 Kane 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.