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When to Plant Celtuce in Wasatch County, UT

Wasatch County, Utah Zone 6a May

May in Wasatch County, Utah — your action list

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

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost September 26
Soil temp (4") 35°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Move celtuce from tray to bed

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

  2. Outdoor sowing time: celtuce

    Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. A single big planting means a single big glut.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • Starting indoors: celtuce

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Celtuce (stem lettuce) is a Chinese vegetable grown for its thick, crunchy stem rather than its leaves. The peeled stem has a mild, cucumber-like flavor.

Wasatch County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is September 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 130 days.

At an elevation of 8,190 feet, Wasatch County receives approximately 16.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Celtuce during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Celtuce successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Wasatch County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
130 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
130 growing days
First Fall Frost September 26
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Wasatch County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (34 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Aug 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Sep 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 15 Transplant: Jun 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 21 – Oct 2

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 Wasatch County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–7.6) is more alkaline than Celtuce prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Celtuce

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

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

Succession Planting Celtuce

2
successive plantings in your 130-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 28 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 18.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 227 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Celtuce

Celtuce needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Celtuce Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 2.1" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 1.2" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3" 1.2" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3" 1.7" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 3" 1.2" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Celtuce 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.

Celtuce needs ~1,088 GDD — county provides 1,885 GDD Excellent fit

Celtuce Planting Timeline — Wasatch County, UT

Celtuce 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 July 21 Jul 21 – Sep 1
Fall Sowing July 18 Jul 18 – Aug 1

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

130 days in Wasatch County

Growing Tips for Celtuce in Wasatch County

Direct sow Celtuce outdoors after May 19 in Wasatch County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Celtuce in this region include aphids and slugs. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow in spring or start indoors. Space 12 inches apart. Harvest when stems are about 1 inch in diameter. Peel the tough outer skin to reveal the tender center.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Celtuce in Wasatch County, UT?

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

What planting zone is Wasatch County, UT?

Wasatch County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is September 26.

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Your Wasatch County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Wasatch 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.

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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 Wasatch 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.