Utah Seed Exchange: October 2013

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Potato (or Multiplier) Onions

In February we will having a class on growing Potato Onions by Kelly Winterton who developed large multiplier onions here in northern Utah! These onions grow like garlic, with 2-8 onions cloning from each onion. The onions are 1-3" in size and they store well. You can plant them in the fall at the same time as your garlic, or in the spring. Kelly will be bringing seed for us to grow out, which we can then grow as clones.

If you are interested in getting seeds, please read this booklet now by Kelli to learn about them.

Rockin' Rampicante

I'm falling more and more in love with the versatility of Rampicante! Tonight I made my favorite lasagna recipe, substituting mandalin sliced Rampicante for the pasta. So yummy! Peel the Rampicante, cut into 4-6" pieces or as long as you can slice on your mandalin lengthwise, the thickness should be the same as lasagna noodles, do not precook - stack in your lasagna raw, and use in your favorite lasagna recipe. Cooking time should be the same as your recipe calls for, I cooked mine at 350 degrees for 50 min.

Vegetable Planting Chart

Specific Planting Dates for Spanish Fork, UT, may need to adjust for weather or location, from Clyde's Garden Planner donated by Baker Creek Seed:

Spring Crops (last spring frost May 10th):
March 1 plant seeds indoors Cabbage, Cauliflower
March 15 plant seeds indoors Broccoli
March 17 in the ground Peas, Spinach
March 22 in the ground Onions
March 29 plant seeds indoors Lettuce
April 5 plant starts Cabbage, Cauliflower
April 5 plant in the ground Radish, Turnip
April 12 plant in the ground Beets, Potatoes
April 12 plant seeds indoors Peppers, Tomatoes
April 19 plant starts Broccoli, Lettuce
April 26 plant in the ground Carrots, Beets
May 3 plant seeds indoors Cucumbers, Squash, Melons
May 10 plant seeds indoors Ochra
May 17 plant seeds indoors Pumpkins
May 17 in the ground Beans, Corn
May 24 plant starts Cucumbers, Squash, Melons
May 31 plant starts Peppers, Tomatoes
June 7 plant starts Okra, Pumpkins

Fall Crops (first fall frost October 10th):
May 31 plant seeds indoors Cabbage
June 7 plant seeds indoors Cauliflower
June 14 plant seeds indoors Broccoli
July 5 plant in the ground, Cucumbers, Okra, Pumpkins, Summer Squash - plant starts Cabbage*
July 12 plant in the ground Peas*, Carrots*, Chard - plant starts Cauliflower*
July 19 plant in the ground Beets, Bush Green Beans - plant starts Broccoli*
August 2 plant in the ground Radishes, Turnips, Cabbage
August 9 plant in the ground Leaf Lettuce, Bok Choi
August 16 plant in the ground Spinach
October plant in the ground Garlic

*protect from heat
Plant cold hardy varieties of lettuce and spinach to extend your growing season into the winter. See chapter 6 of 'The Forgotten Skills of Self-Sufficiency used by the Mormon Pioneers' by Caleb Warnock for cold hardy variety recommendations.

How to Become a Member

If you would like to become a member of the Utah Seed Exchange you will need to:

1. Commit to learning and actively saving seeds, at least one new variety a year. You must test your seeds for purity by growing a few and matching them to the parent plant before you share them with anyone.

2. Become familiar with the concepts of seed saving. Please catch up with the information and classes that have been taught. They are listed under the 'Pages' section on the right. Go through the pages and read and watch the information.

3. You will need to own and reference 'Seed to Seed' by Suzanne Ashworth (amazon.com) and it is recommended that you own and read 'The Forgotten Skills of Self-Sufficiency used by the Mormon Pioneer' by Caleb Warnock which is a great book on seed saving in Utah.

When you have done these things, email me your request for membership at utahseedexchange@gmail.com and let me know that you have completed the requirements.