Utah Seed Exchange: May 2013

Friday, May 31, 2013

Heirloom, Organically grown plants available

If you need plants this season, you can still get them at Woodhead Gardens in Orem. See their website for the location at woodheadgardens.com. They have a self serve plant stand, so you can go at any time.

If you haven't yet toured their garden or would like to see it again, they have tours starting on the hour between 10am and 7pm every Thursday. It is an amazing example of a self sustaining, mass producing garden in a small space.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Free Planting Festival May 4th 1-5pm

Spring Planting Festival - May 4th from 1-5pm at Allred Orchards - 2109 North University Avenue, Provo.

Bring your own chair for classes! They will be outside, so you might want a hat, water, and sun screen.

Parking is available in the lot to the south of the building, and on the street.

Class Schedule:

1:15 Healthier Plants and Greater Production through Soil Health and Nutrients by Michelle Roberts

2:15 Vermiculture (worm composting) by Logan Lyons (Worms will be available)
3:15 Growing Mushrooms by Biocentric Bros. (Kits will be available)
4:15 Organic Pest and Disease Control by Alex Grover

(if there are any changes, they will be posted on our website at www.utahseedexchange.org, you can also check www.springplantingfestival.com)

Vendors will have many things you need to get your spring/summer garden going including:

- Heirloom, organic vegetable starts, strawberries and herbs

- Red Wiggler worms for vermiculture
- Azomite - organic soil nutrient additive - see azomite.com
- Coconut Coir

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.