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Are you having visions of BLT sandwiches made with vine-ripened tomatoes and crispy lettuce fresh from your garden? You are not alone, and with some basic planning and preparation, those dreams of home-grown vegetables can come true.
If this is your first attempt at vegetable gardening on the Front Range, start with small steps and work your way into it. A good rule of thumb for first-time gardening of any kind is to start with plants that have proven to be hardy and easy to grow in our area. Garden Notes 719 and #720, available from your County Extension Office, provide a wealth of information about vegetables that are well-suited to Northern Colorado. Restrict your vegetable garden to a manageable size, no more than 100 square feet per person in your household. As you gain more experience, enlarge your space, try more challenging plants and experiment with more advanced techniques.
Whether you are an experienced gardener or new to the region, there are several things to consider as you plan your vegetable garden. A good starting point is to answer such questions like, "When it is safe to plant outdoors, and what other environmental factors exist in my garden?" "What vegetables are good choices for my garden and which am I most likely to use in my home?" "Are my choices cool-season or warm-season crops?" "How much time and space can I realistically devote to vegetable gardening?"
Our growing season is usually defined by the last and first frost dates of the year. Typically, we can expect the last frost date about mid-May, and the first killing frost about mid-September, giving us a season of about 120 days on average. If you've been in Colorado very long, you know nothing is certain when it comes to weather, and it pays to keep an eye out for changing conditions that can interfere with your vision for a vigorous vegetable garden.
Consider where your vegetable garden will be located, how it's oriented for maximum sunlight, and whether you have natural wind protection. East-west bed orientation helps achieve the maximum sun exposure needed by most of our warm-season crops. Even moderate-sized landscapes can contain "micro-climates" where temperatures and moisture levels can vary significantly due to small elevation changes, shading or proximity to structures. For example, a vegetable garden located in the north end of your property can be exposed to radiation frost or dry northerly winds that can "burn" tender vegetation.
In this situation, the prudent gardener plans ahead for frost protection measures appropriate for those conditions. Depending on the amount of time, energy and financial resources you want to invest, the options range from covering your tender plants at night with an old bed sheet or using "walls of water" for individual plants, to elaborate structures for moderating soil and air temperature. All of them are based on the general principle of using sunlight to warm the soil during the day, then trapping the heat to protect enclosed plants at night.
Such techniques are often used proactively by gardeners who make the season as long as possible. Many veteran vegetable growers like to start warm-season vegetables from seed indoors, about four to eight weeks before the last frost date. Before taking this approach, consider whether you have space and can create the proper indoor environment to produce healthy seedlings for outdoor planting. Remember that you will need to "condition" your new plants to help them make a successful transition from indoors to the relatively harsh conditions that await them outdoors. When you transplant the seedlings, protect them from cold nighttime temperatures and wind.
Raised beds are an ideal choice for home vegetable gardening in our region. With adequate planning and care, raised beds are well-suited to season-extending techniques and provide a means for moving and working in your garden without compacting soil or trampling plants. Give extra consideration to irrigation. Consistent and adequate irrigation is critical. Use drip or "soaker" type systems to conserve water and reduce evaporative loss.
If you are unable to use all your fresh produce, consider preserving it for later use or donating it to your local food bank for distribution to low-income families. Contact your county extension office for information on safely preserving and using fresh produce. Plant-a-Row for the Hungry is a national program of the Garden Writers of America that organizes local gardeners to provide fresh produce to their food banks. In Larimer County, programs are sponsored in Fort Collins by The Gardens on Spring Creek and in Loveland by the Loveland Youth Gardeners.
For more information on these and other gardening topics, contact your county extension office or go online to http://www.ext.colostate.edu. And...enjoy your home-grown BLT!
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