When to plant lemon balm in Salt Lake City, Utah

March 31 – April 14

Transplant outdoors · typical Salt Lake City year

Climate basis: NOAA station Salt Lake Triad Ctr, UT (USC00427606), 1 mi (2 km) from downtown Salt Lake City (ZCTA 84111 centroid), elevation 4280 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Transplant lemon balm outdoors from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (March 31). One year in ten still freezes after April 19.

Last spring freezeMarch 311-in-10 after Apr 19

First fall freezeNovember 81-in-10 before Oct 23

Frost-free season≈ 224 daysmedian at 32°F

Hard freeze, 28°Mar 8 – Nov 18kills even hardy greens

USDA zone7b5 to 10°F winter low — not frost timing

The Salt Lake City year

Start seeds indoorsFeb 17 – Mar 3

Transplant outdoorsMar 31 – Apr 14

indoors under lights
in the garden
frost-free season
1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 19

Lemon Balm in Salt Lake City · freeze context from Salt Lake Triad Ctr, UT, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Start seeds indoors

Feb 17 – Mar 3

Wisconsin Horticulture sows lemon balm indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost, so the window runs 6 to 4 weeks before that date. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Mar 31). University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture · Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech

Transplant outdoors

Mar 31 – Apr 14

Wisconsin Horticulture ties lemon balm transplanting to seedling height rather than a date, so the frost anchor comes from Virginia Cooperative Extension's herb publication — whose herb table lists lemon balm — which sets all herb plants out after the danger of severe frost has passed. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Mar 31). Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech

Variety assumption: A hardy perennial that self-seeds freely; these windows apply to first-year plantings from seed or nursery plants.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:

Crop rule sources (2)

University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture: Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis (accessed 2026-07-25)
"Lemon balm can be started from seed sown indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost, although seeds may be somewhat slow to germinate."
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech: Herb Culture and Use (Publication 426-420) (accessed 2026-07-25)
"In addition, many culinary herbs, such as tarragon, can only be propagated asexually; seed-grown plants lack the oils that give them flavor."

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