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When to Plant Comfrey in Uintah County, UT

Uintah County, Utah Zone 5b May

Uintah County, Utah gardeners: here's your May plan

Welcome to May in Zone 5b. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost October 4
Soil temp (4") 40°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Get comfrey in the ground

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

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Comfrey is a vigorous perennial herb valued as a dynamic accumulator of nutrients. Its leaves make excellent mulch, compost activator, and liquid fertilizer.

Uintah County, 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 Comfrey during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Comfrey successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

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

Uintah County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Transplant: May 9 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Sep 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (1 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Oct 20

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 Uintah County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.8) is more alkaline than Comfrey prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Comfrey.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Comfrey

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Comfrey

2
successive plantings in your 147-day season

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
1.1″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,471 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Comfrey

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

Month Comfrey 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 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.9" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 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.

Comfrey 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.

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

Comfrey Planting Timeline — Uintah County, UT

Comfrey Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 – Sep 27

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

147 days in Uintah County

Growing Tips for Comfrey in Uintah County

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

Uintah County receives only 13" of rain annually. Comfrey needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Plant root cuttings 2 inches deep. Choose Bocking 14 variety to prevent self-seeding. Cut leaves 3-4 times per season for mulch or compost. Avoid planting near pathways as it spreads.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Comfrey in Uintah County, UT?

Uintah County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Comfrey planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Uintah County, UT?

Uintah County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is October 4.

🌱

Your Uintah County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-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: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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