Hi, I also in live in Utah (Layton zone 6) and I have found it doesn't do any good to try and plant them early because they just sit there until it gets nice and warm outside. I usually plant mine around the 2nd week of May and they don't really take off until it starts getting really warm outside. I plant mine about 3 inches deep and give lots of water and fertilizer once they start growing. I grow mine in pots and overwinter them in their pot in the garage.

I have a lot of tropical plants that I overwinter that way. I also plant cannas and bananas to give the tropical look, along with a few potted palm trees. I have sucessfully overwintered the Musa Basjoo Banana plant in the ground for 3 years now by cutting it back and mulching with bags of leaves and straw. It comes back bigger and bigger every year and definetly gives the tropical look without too much effort.

Good luck with your tropical garden!

Linda

H I Linda,
I'm in Utah too Provo zone 5. I'd love to know what else you have in your garden. Especially things you leave out year round!
I always get to excited and put my EE s and canna out beginning of may. Then we get more storms and I worry. Doing it early my neighbor who plants them in black plastic pots much later are always bigger and better than mine. I'm going to wait until after memorial day this year.