Orem, Utah: planting zone & frost dates
Orem 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 26 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 9 | Oct 5 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Apr 26 | 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 OREM TRTMT PLT, UT (USC00426538), 2.5 mi (4.0 km) from the city center and 256 ft lower than the city center (-78 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 14 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Orem
All 4 ZIP codes covering Orem are in zone 7a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Orem
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Apr 26, 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 1 – Mar 15 | May 3 – May 17 | — | — |
| Pepper | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | Apr 12 – May 3 | Mar 29 – May 10 | Aug 4 – Sep 1 |
| Green Beans | — | — | May 3 – Jun 7 | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | May 3 – May 31 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 29 – Apr 5 | May 3 – May 17 | May 3 – May 24 | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Cucumber | Mar 29 – Apr 5 | May 10 – May 17 | May 3 – May 24 | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Carrot | — | — | Apr 5 – May 10 | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Onion | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | — | — |
| Basil | Mar 15 – Mar 29 | May 10 – May 24 | May 10 – May 31 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Mar 15 – Apr 12 | Aug 18 – Sep 15 |
| Kale | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | Aug 4 – Sep 1 |
| Broccoli | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Apr 12 – May 3 | — | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Peas | — | — | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Eggplant | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | May 10 – May 24 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | — | Jul 21 – Aug 4 |
| Radish | — | — | Mar 22 – May 10 | Sep 1 – Sep 29 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Apr 5 – May 17 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
Nearby cities in Utah
- Provo — zone 6b, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 16
- Lehi — zone 7a, last frost May 8, first frost Oct 2
- Sandy — zone 7b, last frost May 8, first frost Oct 16
- South Jordan — zone 7a, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 16
- West Jordan — zone 7b, last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 16
- West Valley City — zone 7b, last frost Apr 16, first frost Oct 25
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
Orem gardening questions
When is the last frost in Orem, UT?
Plan around Apr 26. At NOAA's Orem Trtmt Plt, UT station, 2.5 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 9 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 37 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Orem, UT?
Start seeds indoors Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside May 3 – May 17, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 170 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 Orem?
About 182 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 205 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 5 and a 30% chance by Oct 13. That ranks 8th longest of 11 Utah cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Orem?
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 Oct 31. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Orem's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Orem 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 Orem compare with Provo, UT?
Orem is zone 7a and Provo is zone 6b. The typical last spring frost in Orem (Apr 26) comes about the same time as in Provo, UT (Apr 25), 5 miles away, and the first fall frost is Oct 13 versus Oct 16. Orem sits about 160 ft higher, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.