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Show A If V Climatologist warns gardens may be critical Abnormal weather in parts of the country give more reason for Utah families to plant gardens, says State Department of Agriculture Climatologist, K. Arlo Richardson at Utah State University. Richardson explained that this year frost has hit garden and fruit products in Florida and Georgia. Also, persistent wet weather in California has prevented harvest, causing many vegetable crops to rot in the field. The potential for shortage is very great. That means prices for available products pro-ducts in the food stores may skyrocket. It can hurt most those people affected by the economy who have less money with which to buy food. Having a garden and managing it properly may mean the difference between a family going hungry and not going hungry. The climatologist noted that there should be plenty of water available this year for growing gardens. He advises using it and the growing season climate to best advantage by planting various vegetables when they will grow best and by growing multiple crops on the same soil. Follow such early season crops as radishes, lettuce, and peas with more peas and string beans for later harvest and with warmer crops in the same area. The climatologist suggests looking to the stages of apple development in your area as a good indicator of the optimum times to plant various plant groups of vegetables. Those groups are indicated in the Extension Circular 313, "'Growing "'Grow-ing Vegetables," available from county extension offices. The circular gives recommended varieties and a home garden planting chart. It states that the hardy group should be planted as soon the soil dries out in the spring i when the apple buds first begin to swell, the semi-hardy group a week or two later (apple buds at tight cluster stage), the tender group at last expected spring frost (apples at full bloom), and the very tender group about two weeks after the tender group (when little green apples have first developed). Richardson believes even though unusual weather has delayed some garden planting this year, sufficient food can be raised to really aid the family pocketbook. It should be possible possi-ble even for those who don't have a large area for a garden. |