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When to Plant Fennel in Lapoint, UT

Uintah County, Utah Zone 5b June

Top priorities for Uintah County, Utah gardeners in June

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

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost October 4
Soil temp (4") 51°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.8 hrs
July will be here before you know it — start on
  • Starting indoors: fennel
  • First harvests: fennel

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Florence fennel is grown for its swollen bulb-like stem base, which has a mild anise flavor. It is crisp raw in salads and sweet when roasted or braised.

Lapoint, Utah is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 147 days.

At an elevation of 6,372 feet, Uintah County receives approximately 12.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Fennel during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Fennel successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Lapoint, UT (Zone 5b) Short season
147 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
147 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4

Lapoint Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Fennel Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (28 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 18 – Aug 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (28 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (22 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Sep 29

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 Lapoint

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.8) is more alkaline than Fennel prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Fennel.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Fennel.

How to Plant Fennel

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

Succession Planting Fennel

2
successive plantings in your 147-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 06 to harvest before frost.

Fennel Water Budget

Plant needs
0.6″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 655 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Fennel

Fennel 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 Fennel Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.6" 1.5" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 2.6" 0.9" 1.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.6" 1.2" 1.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 2.6" 1.2" 1.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 2.6" 1.1" 1.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.6" 1.2" 1.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Fennel 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.

Fennel needs ~1,031 GDD — county provides 2,021 GDD Excellent fit

Fennel Planting Timeline — Lapoint, UT

Fennel Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29
Transplant Outdoors May 24 May 24 – Jun 7
Direct Sow May 17 May 17 – Jun 7
Harvest July 26 Jul 26 – Sep 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.6"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

147 days in Uintah County

Growing Tips for Fennel in Lapoint

Direct sow Fennel outdoors after May 10 in Uintah County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Fennel in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in late summer for fall harvest to reduce bolting. Hill soil around bulbs as they enlarge. Harvest when bulbs are tennis-ball sized before they elongate.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Beans

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌱

Your Uintah County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Uintah 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 Uintah County, UT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.