Winter - The Organic Forecast

Starting seeds in doors can relieve cabin fever

January 27, 2019

Cabin Fever Reliever

Here in Utah we’ve recently experienced a small bout of warm weather inspiring many to get outside, breathe some fresh air and look for signs of spring. Unfortunately it’s still only February and if you believe the theory of the groundhog, we have a few more weeks of winter before we can seriously consider getting…

February 15, 2015

Warming up to the Idea of Warmer Winter Days

The media is buzzing with stories about ‘warmer than usual winter days’. Just this past week, Salt Lake City reached temperatures in the mid 60’s! This is certainly nice for spending time outside, but what is the effect of long stretches of warm winter temperatures on garden plants and what can you do about it? …

December 18, 2016

Summer Gardens Unfold on Winter Days

Oh the weather outside is frightful But inside it’s so delightful Planning which seeds to sow Let us grow, let us grow, let us grow Winter doesn’t show signs of stopping Seed catalogs in the mail are dropping Gardens planned row by row Let us grow, let us grow, let us grow When…

December 13, 2020

Garden Safe De-icing Products for Sidewalks and Driveways

Wow, what a wet, wonderful winter we have had so far in the Salt Lake Valley! Skiers and snowboarders love it, but homeowners sometimes loathe it – shovel after shovel load of winter wonderland! Streets can be difficult to maintain and driving/walking conditions slippery which brings up a concern for gardeners – deicing salts. Salts…

January 15, 2017

Holy Cow – It’s freezing out here!

It’s that magical time of year, when seed catalogs start rolling in! Seed companies know they have a captive audience since gardeners Don’t have anything to watch grow in their gardens; Miss eating garden ripe produce; Have extra time on their hands they usually spend tending the garden. This “triangle effect” has resulted in many…

January 12, 2020

Be Legit-Get Equipped! Start Garden Seedlings Indoors

One of the best ways to beat the winter time blues is to start your own garden seedlings indoors. Nothing screams spring like watching your garden plants germinate and grow! Starting seedlings indoors is not hard and does not need to be expensive, but there are some necessary equipment purchases you need to make to…

March 13, 2016

Equipment Needs for Starting Seeds- Indoors!

February 5, 2017

Fruit, Frost, February – 3 words that belong together.

I’m not sure if you have noticed recently, but it is still cold outside which is good news for you, me and fruit growers alike! Cold temperatures prevent fruit buds from breaking dormancy abnormally early in the spring which may decrease the chance of frost damage to blossoms in coming months. Cold weather also contributes…

February 8, 2015

Don’t Forget to Tell Your Garden Soil ‘I LOVE YOU’ this Valentine’s Day!

Before you even think about lifting a shovel to start digging into your garden soil, make sure you take a moment to show it you care. Your garden soil is a precious resource and therefore it is important to take the very best care of it possible. Baby your garden soil like you would baby…

February 2, 2015

20 Ways to Super-stroy Your Garden in 20 Seconds

In honor of the Super Bowl XLIX game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, this blog post was written to warn gardeners about 20 things they can do to destroy their garden in 20 seconds or less. (Seattle, this one’s for you!) Till garden soil with high clay content under wet conditions –…

January 19, 2015

Heirloom, Hybrid, Organic, GMO – What does it all Mean?

Have you ever opened up a seed catalog and been confused by all the terms and choices? What is the difference between Clemson Spineless Okra OG and regular Clemson Spineless Okra? And how exactly is Clemson Spineless Okra different from Hill County Red Okra? Let’s take a minute to slow down and clear up the…

February 17, 2019

‘Days to Harvest’ Demystified

As you flip through seed catalogs or look at the growing requirements on the back of a seed packet, you will see a number (typically in parenthesis). This number, called ‘days to harvest’ or ‘days to maturity’ tells gardeners how many days it takes for a germinated seed or transplanted start (small plant) to produce…

January 5, 2015

Seedlings Greetings- Tips for Shopping Seed Catalogs!

I can always tell when it’s time to ring in the New Year by declarations of overly ambitious resolutions and the sound of seed catalogs smacking on the floor under my mail slot. Watching a gardener thumb through a seed catalog is a lot like a watching a kid in the candy store. There are…

January 26, 2015

Okay I’ve Ordered My Garden Seeds- Now What?

Congratulations on catching spring fever and ordering your garden seeds! Okay, so what comes next? If this is your first time starting garden plants from seed, relax, I’ll walk you through the process. Here are five steps you need to take to prepare your garden seeds for planting. Determine when you need to plant your…

March 10, 2014

Tip of the Week: Pruning Fruit Trees

It is that time of year again to get out there and prune those fruit trees. “Annual pruning of fruit trees helps to maintain vigor, tree health, and fruit size. Apple trees can be pruned almost any time in winter, but peach/nectarine, apricot and plum trees should be pruned in spring, just before bloom. These trees…