Layton, Utah: planting zone & frost dates
Layton is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C). The typical last spring frost is around Apr 27 and the first fall frost around Oct 13.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | May 7 | Oct 6 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Apr 27 | Oct 13 |
| Median (50%) | Apr 19 | Oct 19 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station FARMINGTON 3 NW, UT (USC00422726), 4.2 mi (6.8 km) from the city center and 82 ft lower than the city center (-25 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 13 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Layton
All 2 ZIP codes covering Layton are in zone 7a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Layton
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Apr 27, first frost Oct 13). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | May 4 – May 18 | — | — |
| Pepper | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | Apr 13 – May 4 | Mar 30 – May 11 | Aug 4 – Sep 1 |
| Green Beans | — | — | May 4 – Jun 8 | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | May 4 – Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | May 4 – May 18 | May 4 – May 25 | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Cucumber | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | May 11 – May 18 | May 4 – May 25 | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Carrot | — | — | Apr 6 – May 11 | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Onion | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | — | — |
| Basil | Mar 16 – Mar 30 | May 11 – May 25 | May 11 – Jun 1 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Mar 16 – Apr 13 | Aug 18 – Sep 15 |
| Kale | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Aug 4 – Sep 1 |
| Broccoli | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Apr 13 – May 4 | — | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Peas | — | — | Mar 16 – Apr 6 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Eggplant | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | May 11 – May 25 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | — | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Radish | — | — | Mar 23 – May 11 | Sep 1 – Sep 29 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Apr 6 – May 18 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
Nearby cities in Utah
- Ogden — zone 7a, last frost Apr 28, first frost Oct 17
- Salt Lake City — zone 7b, last frost Apr 16, first frost Oct 25
- West Valley City — zone 7b, last frost Apr 16, first frost Oct 25
- West Jordan — zone 7b, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 16
- Sandy — zone 7b, last frost May 8, first frost Oct 16
- South Jordan — zone 7a, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 16
More: all Utah cities · other zone 7a cities: Louisville, KY, Wichita, KS, Cleveland, OH, Lexington, KY, St. Louis, MO, Boise, ID, Amarillo, TX, Providence, RI
Layton gardening questions
When is the last frost in Layton, UT?
Plan around Apr 27. At NOAA's Farmington 3 NW, UT station, 4.2 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Apr 19, and after May 7 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Apr 1. The 90% and 10% dates are 36 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Layton, UT?
Start seeds indoors Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside May 4 – May 18, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 169 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Layton?
About 181 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 158 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 206 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 6 and a 30% chance by Oct 13. That ranks 9th longest of 11 Utah cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Layton?
Count back from the first fall frost (Oct 13): transplant broccoli Jul 21 – Aug 4; sow kale Aug 4 – Sep 1; sow lettuce Aug 4 – Sep 1; sow radishes Sep 1 – Sep 29. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Nov 1. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Layton's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Layton is zone 7a on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Layton compare with Ogden, UT?
Both are in zone 7a. The typical last spring frost in Layton (Apr 27) comes about the same time as in Ogden, UT (Apr 28), 10 miles away, and the first fall frost is Oct 13 versus Oct 17. The two cities use different NOAA stations.