Planting now!
Are you wondering what you can plant in your garden now? According to Utah State University Extension, here in the Uinta Basin we can begin to plant many things as soon as the soil has dried out enough to be worked.
The hardiest crops can be planted around April 1st, and include peas, onions, leeks, spinach, kohlrabi, radishes and turnips. All of the above can be planted from seed. If you're setting out transplants, it's safe to plant artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. The important thing with transplants is to harden them off for a few days before planting them out by putting them outdoors in a sheltered location and increasing the exposure to direct sun over a few days.
By April 15th, it's safe to plant semi-hardy vegetables like beets, lettuce, carrots, potatoes and swiss chard. If you're setting out plants, cauliflower can be added to the list.
If you're planting from seed, be sure to plant the seeds at the correct depth! Let the seed lie naturally in the palm of your hand, then plant it 3 times deeper than the depth of the seed in your hand. By planting at the correct depth, the freshly sprouted seedling has a chance to make it to the surface of the soil. If too deep, it may not make it.
For best results with peas, beans and corn, soak the seeds overnight in water, or pre-germinate them indoors in a moist paper towel just until the root tip emerges, then plant them out into the garden.
It's best to wait until mid-to-late May to plant tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers and squash unless you are willing to take extra measures to protect them from the late frosts we typically have here in the Basin.
USU Extension has a great publication that you can download with information about the best planting times for vegetable crops: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/extension_curall/1824/
