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Good news! If you can’t wait until spring to start your gardening in earnest, there are plenty of plants that are hearty enough to be planted in the winter months. This, of course, also depends on where exactly you’re located in Utah. It’s critical to know which zone you’re in (Zones 1 – 9) because that’s going to tell you exactly when you can plant. The Dirt Bag works with gardeners all over Northern Utah.
Right now is also the best time to get a soil sample so that when it comes time to fertilize in the spring you’re well-prepared. Since the shorter winter days mean new growth is at a halt, you’re watering and mowing less—which leaves plenty of time to get to gardening.
For those in Zone 9, the warmest in the area, January is a great time to start planting seeds indoors that you can transfer outdoors in a few weeks. Zone 9 gardeners can plant indoor broccoli, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, spinach, and tomatoes in January. In February, you can plant indoor beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, and cucumbers. May is when most indoor seeded veggies can be moved outside, so you’re going to have a few months to give your future summer garden a fantastic start.
The lower the zone numbers, the cooler the area, which means you’re going to have to wait a little longer to start your planting—but don’t worry. There’s still plenty you can do right now to prep for your future harvest. For example, you can build or buy new garden beds and get them situated by laying down some organic mulch topped with an option like shredded bark chips for added beauty. Sometimes the literal “heavy lifting” of gardening can snowball alongside other gardening tasks, making getting your garden in order a challenge. In addition to indoor seeding, think about what you can do in the winter months to make things easier and more enjoyable come late spring.
Now is a great time to spruce up the non-organic look of your yard thanks to the slow growth. You won’t be battling weeds on a daily basis, so you can take this time to really set the framework for your garden. Maybe this means the addition of stepping stones, a fountain, or springing for that archway you’ve been eyeing. It’s also a great time to score a deal on many garden items since people aren’t exactly busting down the doors this time of year.
You can also stock up on what you’re going to need, from fertilizer to mulch and Garden Soil Plus. Taking care of whatever tasks you can right now is going to increase the joy of gardening in warmer months. At The Dirt Bag, we offer great prices year-round so you don’t have to wait for a Memorial Day Sale to get what you want at an affordable price. Connect with us today and let’s talk about your winter gardening and prep work.
