ST. GEORGE — While many Utah gardeners are busy harvesting the fruits of their labor, it’s fall planting season in Washington County. Cooler temperatures and a mild winter can lead to an abundance of gorgeous flowers and scrumptious vegetables in this part of the state.

Now is a great time to plant cool weather crops like carrots, onions, lettuce, spinach, beets, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Dress up a porch or deck with pansies, stock, snapdragons and alyssum which all fare well through the winter.

Start with good soil

The ground in Washington County is often hardpan or caliche, which is a hard layer of calcium carbonate. And the soil is typically comprised of a lot of clay or a lot of sand, neither of which do well for gardens, said Rick Heflebower, an extension agent and horticulturist at the Utah State University Extension office in Washington County.

“We also frequently have high pH soil which is usually a high calcium soil,” Heflebower said. “Most gardens actually do better if they are a little more on the acidic side.”

The easy way to avoid the challenging conditions in Washington County is through container gardens and pots. Heflebower advises filling the container gardens with a mix of soil from different sources.

“If you just use one particular brand or soil from one source, sometimes that soil will be very high in one element,” Heflebower said. “If you mix two or three sources of soil together, usually you can get a better blend that way.”

Once the soil is in the container, Heflebower said to add a liquid fertilizer, which often contain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and all the minor nutrients in one mix. To make sure the soil is optimal for growing fruits and vegetables, have it tested for nutrients at the USU Extension office in Hurricane.

Crafting the perfect container

There are a variety of containers that can be used to make container beds for gardening. Casey Jones from the Washington County Water Conservancy District also serves as the curator and horticulturist for the Demonstration Garden at Tonaquint Park. Jones said wood works well for container beds because it is relatively inexpensive and provides good insulation for plants.

“The soil temperatures can actually reach 200 degrees, so that’s a lot of temperature fluctuation,” Jones said.

The downside to wood is that it has to be sealed and cared for so it doesn’t dry out. Container gardens can also be made from metal, although in this climate it can overheat plants. Metal container gardens do best in areas where there is a little shade.

Pots make great containers for both veggies and flowers. Plastic containers are inexpensive but like metal, they can heat up fast. Jones said terracotta pots are attractive but disintegrate over time.

“If terracotta is not sealed, it can actually pull moisture out of the soil and away from the plants,” Jones said.

Fired clay pots are attractive and long-lasting, but gardeners should expect to pay a bit more for them. Jones said one hack for potted plants is to put one pot inside another, which can help with temperature fluctuation and drainage. Foam can be used in the bottom of pots as insulation and to make big pots a little lighter. There are also pots that look like whiskey barrels that are made out of foam, which is lightweight and offers good insulation.

Waterworks

Using the correct amount of water is essential to successful gardening. Plants suffer from getting too much or too little water. Determining the right amount of water depends on several factors including the kind of soil in the garden, and the amount of exposure to the sun.

A drip irrigation system is effective for container beds, Jones said. The timing of these systems is based on the number of gallons used per hour. Jones said to check the bed about 30 minutes after watering to see how far it has sept into the soil.

“If you’re barely getting into the soil –2 or 3 inches – you need to water longer, not more often,” Jones said.

Soak cycle irrigation systems are great because intermittent watering leads to good absorption, he said, adding that a great rule of thumb with watering is to be consistent with watering days and the amount being used. Plants thrive on consistency and tend to grow accordingly. Putting a saucer or dish underneath pots can help keep the moisture in the plant a little longer.

Those interested in learning more about container gardening is invited to a free workshop sponsored by the Washington County Water Conservancy District.

Event details

• What: Free Landscape Workshop: Container Gardening
• When: Saturday, Oct. 8, 10-11 a.m.
• Where: Tonaquint Nature Center, 1851 S. Dixie Drive, St. George
• Additional information can be found on this website.

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