How to Plant a Vegetable Garden in Utah
Home-grown vegetables are not only healthier for you, they taste better too. Although most of Utah is United States Department of Agriculture zone 6, there are colder regions in the far north of the state and warmer regions in the south. Many varieties of vegetables grow in this diverse climate. With a little effort and patience, you can count on a delicious harvest. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Select those varieties of vegetables that thrive in the climate of Utah in which you live. According to Utah county Extension Service, asparagus, beans, broccoli, corn, onion, peas, root vegetables, and tomatoes all grow well throughout Utah.
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Sketch out the area for your garden on grid paper or a blank piece of paper. Don’t forget to take into consideration the vertical space of your garden. Many vegetables can be grown on a trellis, such as peas, beans, and even small squash.
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Start seeds indoors in small flats or seed-starting kits 6 to 8 weeks before the expected last frost in your area. Make sure you use a good quality seed from a reputable distributor for the highest germination rate.
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Loosen the soil to a depth of 18 inches with a shovel as soon as the ground is workable. Remove any weeds or rocks. Make sure your vegetable garden will receive 8 hours of sunlight every day.
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Amend your soil by spreading three or four inches of compost over the top of the soil and mixing well with a shovel. This will add nutrients to your soil, and improve drainage.
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Transplant your seedlings into your garden according to your overall garden plan. Be careful not to disturb the roots of the new plants. Plant them at the same depth they were growing in their previous container.
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Water your vegetable garden well to collapse any air pockets in the soil and bring moisture to the plants' roots.
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Fertilize your garden with a fertilizer specific for vegetable crops, such as 10-20-0. Utah soils are typically nitrogen- and phosphorous-poor. Fertilizers rich in these minerals will improve the heath and productivity of your plants.
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Spread a thick layer of mulch around, but not touching, your vegetable plants. This will regulate the soil temperature and help the soil retain moisture, while preventing the growth of weeds.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit vegetable medley image by Liz Van Steenburgh from Fotolia.com
