Any Salt Lake City Utahans out there that garden in the winter?

petunia52 10/22/2012, 2:05 am

I just started a trial garden this summer and I do not want to quit for the winter. Building a cold frame up against the foundation on the south side of the house and need info on keeping it going through the entire winter. Any ideas?

**camprn** 10/22/2012, 6:56 am

HI petunia, Welcome to the forum. For your location you can extend your season in spring and winter with a cold frame. If you would like to grow all winter, my guess you'll need a heated green house arrangement.

Triciasgarden 10/22/2012, 7:45 pm

Hi Petunia and welcome! I live in West Jordan but have never gardened in the Winter. I agree with camprn though that you would need a heat source. I have wanted a cold frame for years but haven't gotten around to it. I even have a shower door I could use for the cold frame. Maybe some day, lol!

petunia52 10/24/2012, 7:04 pm

@ camprn, @triciasgarden, do you or anyone you know garden indoors in the winter? I know that sounds crazy but I have an empty basement room (with the lighted shelves I used to start my seedlings that is in front of a window) that I can keep cool and try some lettuces and other cool veggies that might work if you think that is possible. I really got the growing bug and am not ready to give it up. What do you think?

Goosegirl 10/24/2012, 10:14 pm

Just putting in my $0.02. I don't know how well it will work, but I am going to try some indoor lettuces & herbs under my seed-starting lights (cheap fluor. under-cabinet lights). It's only seeds! Maybe we can compare our successes and failures through the long white winter!

GG in SD

Triciasgarden 10/24/2012, 10:41 pm

Petunia and Goosegirl I think both are great ideas! I should try that also! I had only thought of starting seeds indoors, but why not just grow some cool weather crops indoors as long as you are using MM. I read on this forum that someone used MM for their indoor plants and it dried out faster than potting soil. I'm sure that MM is better for good crops so it would be good to keep an eye on them and see how often you do need to water.

petunia52 10/25/2012, 1:43 am

Alright, that's a go for me. I'll keep you posted. And thanks for the input.

FamilyGardening 10/25/2012, 2:04 am

keep us posted on how your winter gardening is going.....dont forget the pictures!

hugs
rose

cheyannarach 10/25/2012, 3:05 pm

Now I want to start a pot of lettuce in the window Very Happy

! I still have lettuce, peas, and radishes in the plant inn on the deck!

Triciasgarden 10/25/2012, 5:42 pm

Cheyenne, I know, huh!

**snibb** 10/26/2012, 1:04 am

I had a winter garden one year just to see if I you could do it in a place like Northern Utah. It was really good-though in SLC you don't have a lot of things that you can grow. I used no heat source other than 6-mil plastic. By the time May 1st came around I was very burned out on gardening though. I am planning on growing a small box this winter. Nobody believed me and I didn't have any pictures to prove it so this year I will be taking pictures. I'm planning on putting those up on my website as the winter goes along. It's not even planted yet-except for brussel sprouts and 2 squares of lettuce. Maybe it will give you some ideas. I'm your neighbor across the freeway in Draper...Jim

petunia52 10/26/2012, 1:35 am

Hello snibb, I am so happy to hear you were successful in having a winter garden. Now I am more determined than ever. My cold frame will be finished this weekend and I want to do some Kale, I understand that grows outside under a blanket of snow. Even I can handle that Wink

But I was planning on putting some lettuces in a basement room under the lights I used for starting the seeds in the spring, not sure if I need to use the heat pad to warm up the soil, and I can keep the temp in there controlled. My shelves and lighting are in front of a west facing window for afternoon sun and I would use the lights earlier in the day. Any thoughts on the possibility or tips to improve my chances? I guess I am too new and excited to think about burn out but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

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Any Salt Lake City Utahans out there that garden in the winter?

Any Salt Lake City Utahans out there that garden in the winter?

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Re: Any Salt Lake City Utahans out there that garden in the winter?

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Re: Any Salt Lake City Utahans out there that garden in the winter?

Re: Any Salt Lake City Utahans out there that garden in the winter?

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