Companion Planting - Onions

Onions are a pest repellent for Carrots

Onions and all members of the Cabbage family get along well.  Onions also like Beets, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Summer Savory and Camomile (sparsely).

Onions do not like Peas and Beans.

Onion maggots travel from plant to plant when set in a row, so scatter your onion plants throughout the garden.

Pesto Rampicante with fresh Tomato for lunch!

I cooked with Rampicante for the first time today, just throwing together some things I had in the garden and fridge, and so enjoyed the results, that I thought I'd share.  I found that I like the flavor of Rampicante better than zucchini, it's very mild, and the texture sautéed was perfectly crisp.  I loved that it was solid flesh throughout most of the squash which lended beautifully to julienne slicing, and I only needed 6" of it for my meal.

Rampicante Pesto with Fresh Tomato

6" of young Rampicante, julienne sliced
small hand full of Red Onion, sliced
Sea Salt to taste
Olive or Coconut Oil

Heat oil in a skillet on medium, sauté Rampicante and Onions seasoned with salt until just tender.

Pesto

Add the pesto to the skillet and mix, as soon as the pesto is warmed up, remove from heat and serve.

Garnish with fresh sliced Tomatoes and Basil

Companion Planting - Carrots

Growing different varieties together can help or hurt your plants.  Here are the plants that help or inhibit carrots, watch for more companion guides to come.

Carrot pest repellents: Onions, Leeks, Rosemary, Wormwood, Sage, Black Salsify
Carrots love Tomatoes, they keep them cool and use up the surrounding nitrogen, which carrots don't like.
Carrot roots have an exudate that are beneficial to the growth of Peas.
Carrots do not like Dill

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.

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

Event with Caleb Warnock

Caleb Warnock with be doing an hour presentation on gardening at an Emergency Preparedness Event on April 27th at 3pm at 950 East 850 North, American Fork, Utah.  The event goes from 1-4pm and will have many other presentations from 1-3pm.  The event coordinators have graciously invited anyone to attend. 

Caleb is the author of the three books:
The Forgotten Self Survival Skills Used by the Mormon Pioneers
The Art of Baking with Natural Yeast
Backyard Winter Gardening

Organic Methods by our Members

I have a new Page on the right hand side of the website called Organic Methods by our Members.  Send me your tested and true ideas for organic fertilization, pest control and disease control and I'll keep them posted there.  We have one already submitted by Kassie on how to increase calcium for your tomatoes to prevent blossom-end rot.