How to Plant a Garden in Utah

Utah terrain ranges from mountains to deserts.

Utah is a state of diverse climates and terrains. The state's climate ranges from mountains to deserts. The varying elevations mean that the state has six different USDA hardiness zones, ranging from zones 3 through 8. The way in which you garden will depend largely on your USDA hardiness zone and soil type. Additionally, before planting a garden you must prepare your soil in order to achieve the maximum amount of success in your garden.

Instructions

1. Locate your garden on a USDA hardiness zone map. Your garden's location on the map will determine what time of the year that you can plant your garden and which plants you can grow. For example, tomatoes are a warm-season plant that will not grow in Utah's zone 3 area. Plan which plants you will plant in your garden based on the USDA zone. Good cool-season plants include radishes, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Good warm-season plants include corn, green beans, squash, melons, tomatoes and herbs such as basil.

2. Place a soil auger's tip against the soil. Twist the soil auger in a clockwise direction to pull soil from the ground. Pull 1 cup of soil from the ground and place it in a bucket. Repeat this process for nine more random locations across your garden. Mix the soil and scoop 2 cups into a sandwich bag. Take the bag to your nearest Utah State University extension service. An agent with the service will give you paperwork to fill out for Utah State University's Analytical Laboratory (USUAL). Fill out the paperwork and label both the paperwork and the bag with a soil identification number in indelible marker. Package the paperwork, soil sample and payment for the test and send the sample to USUAL for soil analysis.

3. Purchase soil amendments based on the soil test results that come back from USUAL. Good soil amendments include compost, peat moss and perlite or vermiculite. Avoid fertilizers or compost high in salinity. Salt content in soil and fertilizers is a major concern in Utah. Compost and other amendments should never have an electrical conductivity that is higher than 20 mmhos/cm. If the electrical conductivity is higher than this, the amendment is too high in saline minerals. Utah soils also are typically high in pH. These soils can be lowered using elemental sulfur.

4. Break up your soil to a depth of 12 inches using a rototiller. Spread the soil amendments over the soil as directed by the soil test. Typically, organic amendments such as compost should be spread at a rate of 3 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of soil. Mix the amendments with the soil using the rototiller.

5. Place hot caps such as a floating row cover over your soil for two weeks to heat the soil. Open a furrow or drill a hole in the soil for seed up to two weeks before the last yearly frost date. Place a seed for a cool-season plant in each drill hole, or up to 1 inch apart in furrows. Cool-season plants will sprout from seed quickly and grow rapidly. Cover the seeds with soil and water so that the soil is as damp as a wrung-out sponge. Thin the seedlings as they grow to keep the plants straight.

6. Dig planting holes in the soil after the last yearly frost date for warm-season plants. These plants will reach maturity faster and may be harvested more quickly if you plant them as seeds. Place the planting holes at their proper spacing. Put the roots of the plant into the hole and cover with soil. Water well. Protect the plants from sudden frost with floating row covers.

References

• Grow It: UTAH USDA Hardiness Zone Map
• Utah State University Extension: Using Compost in Utah Gardens
• Extension: Soils and Composting: Soil Improvement
• Utah State University Extension: USUAL
• Back Country Utah Vacation Guide: Altitude, Climate, Terrain and Culture
• Utah State University Extension: Home Vegetable Garden Variety Reccomendations For Utah

Resources

• Iowa State University Extension: Planting a Home Vegetable Garden