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When to Plant Fava Beans in Uinta County, WY

Uinta County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

Top priorities for Uinta County, Wyoming gardeners in May

May is a pivotal month for Uinta County, Wyoming gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost June 17
Avg. first frost August 31
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
Before June arrives, get these ready
  • Transplants going out: fava beans
  • Direct-sowing: fava beans
  • Fall sowing: fava beans

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Fava beans are a cool-season legume with large, meaty beans inside thick pods. They fix nitrogen in the soil and are one of the oldest cultivated crops.

Uinta County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is June 17 and the first fall frost is August 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 75 days.

At an elevation of 5,768 feet, Uinta County receives approximately 23.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Fava Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Uinta County, WY (Zone 5a) Very short season
75 days
Last Spring Frost June 17
75 growing days
First Fall Frost August 31

Uinta County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Aug 26 – Oct 7
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 13 Transplant: Jun 17 🍅 Harvest: Sep 2 – Oct 14
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 20 Transplant: Jun 24 🍅 Harvest: Sep 9 – Oct 21

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 Uinta County

How your county's soil matches Fava Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–8.3) is more alkaline than Fava Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Uinta County is excellent for Fava Beans — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Fava Beans.

How to Plant Fava Beans

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

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/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 Fava Beans

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

Month Fava Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Oct 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Fava Beans 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.

Fava Beans needs ~1,006 GDD — county provides 862 GDD May not mature

Fava Beans Planting Timeline — Uinta County, WY

Fava Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors May 13 May 13 – May 27
Transplant Outdoors June 17 Jun 17 – Jul 1
Direct Sow June 3 Jun 3 – Jun 24
Harvest September 2 Sep 2 – Oct 14
Fall Sowing June 22 Jun 22 – Jul 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

75–100 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

75 days in Uinta County

Growing Tips for Fava Beans in Uinta County

Direct sow Fava Beans outdoors after June 17 in Uinta County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 75.0-day growing season in Uinta County is tight for Fava Beans (75.0-100.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

Common pests for Fava Beans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Uinta County receives only 24" of rain annually. Fava Beans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Direct sow as early as soil can be worked in spring. Pinch growing tips when pods begin to form to redirect energy and reduce aphid problems. Stake tall varieties.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Fava Beans in Uinta County, WY?

Uinta County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of June 17. Plan your Fava Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Uinta County, WY?

Uinta County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is June 17 and first fall frost is August 31.

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Your Uinta County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Uinta County (Zone 5a). 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 Uinta County, WY. 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.