facebook-pixel

Kick off the gardening season with Salt Lake City plant sales this weekend

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Lettuce at Wasatch Community Gardens Tuesday May 7, 2013. The nonprofit organization is gearing up for its annual plant sale, in which more than 30,000 plants are offered, including Heirloom tomatoes, vegetable starts, herbs, flowers, grasses, water-wise plants, Utah natives, edible perennials. Money from the sale will be used for its many programs, including teaching kids where their food comes from, and how to grow it.

Salt Lake City's gardening season kicks off Saturday with the annual plant sales at Red Butte and Wasatch Community gardens.

Growers can select from a variety of hybrid and heirloom vegetables as well as annuals and perennials that are drought-tolerant and have proven themselves in Utah soils.

Trained staff and volunteers are available to help gardeners select the right plants and offer planting and growing tips. Almost all of the plants are grown by Utah farmers and local nurseries. All proceeds help fund the organizations and the free or low-cost community programs they offer throughout the year.

Red Butte Garden • The garden, on the University of Utah campus, will sell vegetables — including 60 varieties of tomato, 32 peppers and 21 pumpkin and squash types — as well as herbs, annuals, sun and shade perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, roses, trees, and native and drought-tolerant plants.

When • Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Members-only sale, today, 1 to 8 p.m.)

Where • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater, 300 Wakara Way. (From the four-way stop at Chipeta and Wakara Way, turn north and follow the signs.)

Details • redbuttegarden.org/spring-plant-sale

Wasatch Community Gardens • This sale will feature more than 30,000 plants, including 60-plus varieties of heirloom tomatoes, a large selection of edible perennials and herbs as well as seed potatoes, onion starts and compost. Buy 10 herb plants and get the 11th free.

When • Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where • Rowland Hall, 720 S. Guardsman Way (1580 East), Salt Lake City

Details • wasatchgardens.org/news-and-events