When to plant peas in Salt Lake City, Utah

February 17 – March 3

Direct-sow 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. Direct-sow peas 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 season224 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Mar 8Nov 18kills even hardy greens
USDA zone7b5 to 10°F winter low not frost timing

The Salt Lake City year

Direct-sow outdoorsFeb 17 – Mar 3
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 19
Peas in Salt Lake City · freeze context from Salt Lake Triad Ctr, UT, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Direct-sow outdoors

Feb 17 – Mar 3

Purdue: hardy — plant 4–6 weeks before the last spring frost. Penn State earliest sowing Apr 1 (−30 days) sits inside that range; UNH says as soon as soil thaws. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Mar 31). Purdue University Extension · Penn State Extension (York County Master Gardeners) · University of New Hampshire Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

Peas are direct-seeded; transplanting is not part of the cited timing guides.

Transplant outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: Assumes an average shelling/snap variety (about 60–70 days; Penn State lists 65).

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 (3)

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