The recent resurgence in vegetable gardening is a long-awaited and welcome trend after a decline in interest. Y2K fears have spawned more interest in storing food and in growing produce. Vegetable seed sales and sales of fruit trees are up at many local nurseries.
Many of us need a push to motivate us to grow a garden. Perhaps we get lazy or have so many other distractions that we need to be reminded that growing tasty, nutritious food is good for all of us in many ways.Such reminders were not always necessary. My parents and grandparents and generations before that grew up growing most of what they ate. Growing food was a necessity if they didn't want to go hungry. Now we enjoy the best and safest food supply in the world and it has made most of us lackadaisical in our agrarian pursuits.
During the Great Depression people grew gardens to survive. World War II brought the victory gardens (not the television programs) to feed the troops and those allies that were unable to provide for themselves. In more recent times religious leaders have admonished all to grow a garden. Now the resurgence seems tied to the Y2K problem or impending doom.
All gardeners will be pleased to know that I have done extensive research on the effect of Y2K on rutabagas, and as far as I can tell there will be no effect. The rutabagas will be just the same on Jan. 1, 2000, as they were on Dec. 31, 1999.
I think there are many personal, satisfying reasons to grow a garden: It is great exercise, it allows you to grow nutritious vegetables and it is one of the most satisfying ways to spend your time.
For experienced and novice gardeners I offer these suggestions based on my gardening experience.
Look at what you have to work with. No gardener has perfect soil and most of us are dealing with soils that create some real problems. Heavy sticky soils that will not drain and crust so hard that seed cannot emerge will cause no end of problems.
Do not learn to live with a problem soil, but do all you can to improve it. It is not an easy task. In my case I have hauled in tons and tons of organic matter to make the soil better. It is still not perfect, but I can at least see the improvement, and the plants grow better each year.
Organic matter is the solution for most soil problems. Add at least two inches each year and till it in. Leaves, compost, sawdust and many other products will all help make the soil drain better and be easier to work.
Organic matter is a great soil conditioner, but it does not supply all the nutrients that are needed to grow quality vegetables. Nitrogen is need usually deficient and phosphorous is often needed for annual vegetables. Add these as needed to create the best growing environment.
Variety selection is an important key to success in the garden. Utah is different from most other areas of the country, and varieties that do well in other regions may not flourish here. Spring weather can be cold and wet, and fall frosts may come early in the season. Summer heat and searing winds add to the weather problems.
Varieties for our area must be tough and adapted to a short growing season. It takes no more water, no more fertilizer, no more pest control, and above all no more work to grow a superior variety. The best judge of vegetables is you.
Home gardeners can have the best of the best because they can select the best varieties and grow them to the peak of perfection. That is not possible with produce that is picked while immature and then shipped long distances.
For help on selecting superior varieties check with a knowledgeable nursery professional or a trusted local gardening friend. Utah State University Extension Service publishes "Home Vegetable Garden: Variety Recommendations for Utah" that includes those varieties that have proved successful under Utah conditions. The list is available at all Extension offices throughout the state.
Get started right away. Cool-season vegetables, including peas, cabbage, broccoli, onions and potatoes, can all go in the ground now. Many of the commercial onions in the state are already planted. These vegetables will grow much better if they are planted before it gets hot and dry.