Vegetables
Here is the list of common vegetables that grow well in Utah climate. Besides mint family, most of them do not winter over outdoors. Learn how to start your seedlings here.
Umbellifers
carrot, parsnip, dill, parsley, cilantro…
Gourd
pumpkins, squash, melons, cucumbers,…
Alliums
Onions, garlic, leek…
Legumes
beans, peas
Nightshades
tomatoes, pepper, eggplants, potatoes,…
Asters
lettuce, artichoke, …
Grasses
corn, lemongrass
Brassica
kale, cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, napa cabbage, rutabaga, turnip, radish, arugula, mustard…
Mint
basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, lavender, mint…
Others
okra, sweet potato, asparagus
Umbellifers
carrot, parsnip, dill, parsley, cilantro…
Alliums
Onions, garlic, leek…
Nightshades
tomatoes, pepper, eggplants, potatoes,…
Grasses
corn, lemongrass
Mint
basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, lavender, mint…
Umbellifers
Best to sow seeds directly in the soil in spring.
Carrots
The seeds prefer to germinate under 80°F
Dill
This herb grows best in the sun and does not like to be transplanted.
Parsley
This common herb is hardy to around 10°F
Cilantro
Sow the seeds of this prolific plant in spring and it only takes 45 days to harvest.
Gourd
They are all vine plants and prefer to climb on trellis. They tend to be dramatic during the summer heat in Utah – their leaves will be drooping during the day and perk back up around sunset. They’re prone to Squash bugs.
Pumpkins/squash
Includes any type of squash. Their vine might take over your garden.
Zucchini
You don’t need many plants as they’re very prolific.
Cucumbers
Pick them when the color turns to light green and before yellow.
Melons
Heat-loving annual plants – best for summer garden.
Alliums
The plants in this family all share similar firework-like sphere-shape flowers.
Onions
Onions typically need about 100 days of growing to produce decent sized bulbs.
Garlic
Plant garlic heads in fall, grow through winter and harvest in early summer.
Leek
Sow your seeds in early spring and grow through summer.
Legumes
This family can fix nitrogen from the air, and flourish on nitrogen-deficient soils. To do so, they need help from Rhizobium bacteria. These special bacteria stimulate the growth of nodules on the roots of leguminous plants.
Beans
Good for nitrogen fixation.
Peas
They do not like direct sun and heat in summer.
Nightshades
If you don’t have any nightshade family in your garden, you’re missing out! The plants listed below love Utah heat and produce nonstop until the frost in fall.
Tomato
One of the Top 3 vegetables that people grow in Utah!
Pepper
Heat-loving plants.
Eggplants
This heat-loving plant really needs warm soil to grow well, and it takes about 100 days to mature (from seed.)
Potato
You put a potato in the ground, and you might get a several back.
Asters
Besides the common edible ones listed here, there are some flowers in the same family people love in their garden: sunflower, coneflower, zinnia, marigold, yarrow, etc.
Lettuce
You can harvest the leaves as it grows.
Artichoke
It thrives in mild winters, cool summers and plenty of moisture.
Grasses
Corn can be a good trellis for peas and lemon grass is a great option for repelling pests.
Corn
It’s a thirsty crop that requires consistently moist soil.
Lemongrass
This mosquito-repelled plant can tolerate down to 15 degrees.
Brassica
Most of them are cold hardy which means they can tolerate frost. You can start it in early spring or later summer.
Kale
This superfood is easy to grow and tolerate frost.
Cabbage
Depending upon the variety, it can take 85-185 days to harvest from seeds.
Broccoli
A good crop option to start in August.
Bok choy
The mini ones can be harvested in 50 days.
Cauliflower
Generally takes 3-6 months from sowing to maturity depending the variety, size and weather conditions.
Turnip
Turnips require full sun and fertile soil to reach their full potential.
Radish
Daikon’s bio-drilling characteristic makes it an ideal candidate for hard-packed soil.
Arugula
Easily gets bitter or spicy in hot summer.
Mint
If you enjoy cooking, you definitely would love to have these in your garden. Most of them need some protection to winter over. Basil does not stand a chance in winter here – it dies at the first frost.
Basil
Sweet basil, cinnamon basil, lemon basil,… all love the heat in summer.
Thyme
Cold hardy to zone 2!
Mint
Highly recommend to grow in a pot or confined space. Otherwise it will take over your garden.
Oregano
Most of the types are hardy to zone 6 or lower. Still need protection in winter.
Rosemary
It needs protection in winter or better to be brought indoor.
Lavender
English is hardier than French lavender in winter. Some tolerate the heat better than others.
Others
Some common vegetable belong to different families.
Okra
Mallows family
Sweet potato
morning glory family
Asparagus
It takes 2 years to develop the deep roots that allow you to harvest after.
Beet
It’s not too late if you start in mid-summer!