As I launch this first official post for beginning gardeners, let me say, it is a beautiful day, the sun is shining, which is always a boost for this Phoenix grown gal, and as I look at the weather channel it’s, oh a whole 40* wow, heat wave with a bit of a “Pooh” blustery day! Excellent day to bundle up and if possible, stay indoors! So go ahead, pull on some wooly socks, grab that cup o’cocoa and stay warm!
This blog is intended to help meet the needs of gardeners, primarily beginners, in our Riverton, Utah (or like-climate) area. Month by month, I will try to cover as many of the basics as possible in order to get us on the terrific road to gardening. Please remember that gardening is an on-going process, learning the basics, experimenting with new plants, dealing with Mother Nature’s weather, building new yard features, adding new gardening spaces and so on all takes time.
Sounds daunting doesn’t it, let’s begin with our first rule: “KISS” or in other words, “Keep It Simple, (Sister, Silly, Sergio...)”. No one can be expected to learn and retain everything all at once. Use this information as it suits you, try not to bite off more than you can chew! Be patient and kind to yourself and don’t forget the laughter. Gardening is excellent medicine for what ails ya!
Here’s a list of some of the topics I think we’ll cover in the coming months:
Planning Out Your Garden
Seed and Plant Selection
Grow Boxes, Garden Beds, Container Gardening
Soil Preparation: (timing, testing, tilling, amendments)
Warm Season Crops
Hardiness Zones and Frost Dates
Fertilizing
Planting/Transplanting (I love choosing plants at the nursery, especially with the fam!)
Watering (one of my favorite parts)
Insect and Disease Control (ew)
Harvesting and Storing (yum!)
Record Keeping (I thought this was a gardening blog, not accounting!)
Preping the Garden for Next Season
As time, know how and resources are a vital factor, I will give references to sources who have already invented particular wheels. I love the work our Utah State University Extension Services give. They’ve been doing this a long time and are quite an exceptional resource.
As this blog is being started in February, I will still include tips and “to do’s” for January.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY:
- January is the month when seed catalogs will be arriving in the mail. (Did someone say Christmas?) For more seasoned gardeners, make your selections and order early. Many companies sell out early.
-For beginners, until you have learned the basics of growing seeds indoors (Plant a Garden 201), I suggest choosing seeds that are typically planted outside after the last frost.
You might like knowing that:
- Seed companies are governmentally required to meet certain standards.
- That seed packets must be sold within 12 months of the seed date (although the smaller packets aren’t required to have the date on the packet – the larger ones are).
- Turf grass must be sold within 18 months. (Only one.)
This year’s blog will focus primarily on vegetables that will be planted after the last frost, rule of thumb says, after Mother's Day. USU Extension service says last frost: Early: May 14, Average: May 22; and Late: May 27. A reminder of the 3 weeks we had to wait to plant just this last year.
- Be aware of a very reputable seed company right here in the Salt Lake Valley called, “Mountain Valley Seed Co.”. It’s located at 455 West 1700 south. In the past, their seed packets were only available at retail stores, our very own Riverton IFA, various nurseries… I have it on the best authority that they are opening a retail section at their place of business at 455 West 1700 South. Their seeds are also available on-line at: www.mvseeds.com.
- For recommended vegetable varieties in Utah see:
http://www.co.utah.ut.us/dept/exten/Data/vegetableutah.pdf
http://www.extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/pub_5657148.pdf
http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/HG313.pdf
- You’ll want to prune-up your fruit trees, brambles and grapevines. These can be pruned successfully through March. You’ll want to take out dead, diseased, crossing-over and closely paralleled branches, then prune to desired shape. There are several terrific tutorials to assist you in this effort. (See “Links”)
- Last but certainly not least, January is a great month and a really good idea to draw a map with measurements, of your vegetable garden(s). Do your best to keep things proportional, but keep in mind this isn’t a map of your whole yard, just your vegetable garden beds. (Graph paper is a great help here.) Then make multiple of copies of it.
- Many vegetable garden beds stay in the same place year after year but the crops (like tomatoes) need to rotate around. As you plan where this year’s plants go, write them down on a new copy of your map. I have a master copy for any future additions and changes I might want to make. You will want to journal what you did well, not as well, and what you liked and didn't like.
- Keep it in a binder for easy cross checking. Good information will include:
the name of the vegetable/fruit;
the cultivar (could be the same as the name);
Date purchased;
Height and width of growth pattern/seed spacing;
Date planted and
Calculated days to harvest.
Later when you seed indoors, you will want to add “days to germination”.
Some people use the empty seed packet for reference, I like an at-a-glance chart. You’ll know what best suits you.
- If this is the first garden site in your yard, consider these ideas when planning: where will a garden bed(s) fit in the yard? Which side of the yard will your garden get the most sunlight from? Are there any cold spots (areas where there are “micro-climates” within your yard? A microclimate is an area that is lower in temperature, has wind drafts, and so on. Is there anything in your current landscaping that could block or hinder a successful garden? (Trees, buildings, yard art, wires?) What are your neighbor’s habits and possible plans? You don’t want to go to all the work of preparing a new garden bed only to find your neighbor is building a garage just to the south of it.
- Sharpen your yard tools. Paint the worn out handles. Repair and/or paint yard furniture. Many spray paints now have primers in them to make the work go faster.
- As we are still awaiting the grand coming of spring and summer, take time to peruse the various web-sites available on this blog-site.
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