- Utah gardeners are planting early due to warm weather, defying tradition.
- Millcreek Gardens is seeing a rush as gardeners prepare for potential frost.
- Cold-hardy plants like broccoli thrive now; delicate plants should wait until after Mother's Day.
SALT LAKE CITY — With sunshine breaking through and temperatures climbing, Utah gardeners are itching to get their hands back in the soil.
The long-standing "Mother's Day rule" has guided planting habits for generations, but many green thumbs are already getting a head start — as long as they're prepared to protect their plants if winter makes an encore.
At Millcreek Gardens, the spring rush is unmistakable. The sound of hoses spraying and carts rolling fills the air as customers swarm the aisles.
"We've been so busy," said Heidi Orme, who has spent her entire life working for the family business.
Morgan and Stephanie, who garden "every year, all year," were among those picking up supplies. On this trip, tomatoes were at the top of their list.
"Right now we're just getting some tomatoes," Morgan said. "We're usually better off getting those started early."
They know, though, that Utah weather can turn on a dime.
"We'll always check the weather," Stephanie explained. "So if there's a cold snap, we'll go out and cover what needs to be covered and protect the plants from frost."
Inside the nursery, Orme pointed out which plants can handle the unpredictable spring temperatures. Orme knows the rhythms of Utah gardening well.
"These are what you can plant right now," she said, gesturing toward a table of leafy greens. She added that many cold‑hardy varieties are built for this season. "They're your brassica family plants — your broccoli, your cabbages. They love the cold, and they really grow better in the cold."
Still, some traditions die hard. Morgan and Stephanie stick to the old rule when it comes to more delicate plants.
"We don't do flowers," Morgan said with a laugh. "If you're from Utah, the guideline is always after Mother's Day. But I'd be lying if I didn't say every year we don't go a little before Mother's Day. It's true."
For them, gardening is more than a seasonal hobby — it's a way to unwind.
"For us, I think it's just a relaxation from daily life," Stephanie said.
And of course, the payoff is delicious.
