Blog

When to Plant Parsnip in Uinta County, WY

Uinta County, Wyoming Zone 5a May

Uinta County, Wyoming gardeners: here's your May plan

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

Avg. last frost June 17
Avg. first frost August 31
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • Direct-sowing: parsnip
  • Fall sowing: parsnip

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Parsnips are a sweet, nutty root vegetable that develops best flavor after exposure to frost. They require a long growing season but reward patient gardeners.

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 Parsnip 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
Share this guide:

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
Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Sep 23 – Nov 4
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 17 🍅 Harvest: Sep 30 – Nov 11
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 24 🍅 Harvest: Oct 7 – Nov 18

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 Parsnip's growing requirements.

Soil pH

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

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Parsnip

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 Parsnip

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

Month Parsnip 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.

Parsnip 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.

Parsnip needs ~1,322 GDD — county provides 862 GDD May not mature

Parsnip Planting Timeline — Uinta County, WY

Parsnip Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 3 Jun 3 – Jun 24
Harvest September 16 Sep 16 – Oct 28
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
June Direct Sow Fall Sowing
July Fall Sowing
August
September Harvest
October Harvest
November
December
Share this guide:

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

100–130 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

75 days in Uinta County

Growing Tips for Parsnip in Uinta County

Direct sow Parsnip 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 Parsnip (100.0-130.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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

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

General growing tips

Use only fresh seed as parsnip seed viability declines rapidly. Sow directly in spring in deeply worked soil. Leave roots in the ground through winter for sweetest flavor.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Carrots
  • Celery

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Parsnip in Uinta County, WY?

Uinta County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of June 17. Plan your Parsnip 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.

🌱

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.

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 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.