Growing fruits and vegetables in the mountains can be very successful… however, there are some guidelines and tips you will need to consider. The articles below will help you plan, plant, grow and harvest successful mountain produce.

Mountain Vegetable Gardening

• Vegetable Gardening in the Mountains
• Gardening Strategies for Short-Season, High Altitude Zones
• Colorado Mountain Gardener Blog
• Garden Notes

Preparing the Space

• Location

1. Finding Your Hot Spot
2. Mountain Microclimates

• Critter Considerations

1. Gardening with Mountain Wildlife
2. Managing Pocket Gophers
3. Managing Voles in Colorado

• Soil & Amendments

1. Soils, Fertilizers and Soil Amendments
2. Vegetable Garden Soil Management and Fertilization
3. Soil Preparation for a Vegetable Garden
4. Making the Most of Mountain Soil
5. CSU Soil Testing Lab
6. Choosing a Soil Amendment
7. Fertilizing the Vegetable Garden
8. Vegetable Garden- Nitrogen Recommendations

• Water, Water Rights, No Water

1. Colorado Water Law and How to Garden Anyway
2. Water resources
3. No Water Vegetable Garden

• Garden Layout

1. Planning a Vegetable Garden
2. Block Style Layout in Raised Bed Vegetable Gardens

Selecting Species and Varieties

• Warm Season vs. Cool Season
• Vegetable Planting Guide
• Number of Days
• Choosing Varieties

1. Choosing and Growing Adapted Vegetable Varieties
2. Vegetables that Grow Well over 7,000 Feet
3. Preferred Vegetables Fruits- University of Idaho
4. Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash, Melons
5. Swiss Chard

Planting

• Seeds vs. Plants

1. Growing Plants from Seed

• Planting Times
• Planting Techniques

1. Interplanting
2. Succession Planting

The Growing Season

• Weeding

1. Weed Management
2. Controlling Weeds in the Vegetable Garden

• Watering

1. Water Conservation in the Vegetable Garden
2. Colorado Water Law and How to Garden Anyway
3. No Water Vegetable Garden

• Pest Management

1. Homeowner’s Guide: Pesticide Use around the Home and Garden
2. Homeowner’s Guide: Alternative Pesticide Management for the Lawn and Garden

• Extending the Growing Season

1. Extending the Growing Season
2. Frost Protection and Extending the Growing Season
3. Mulches for the Vegetable Garden
4. Growing Plants from Seed

Harvest

• Ideal Harvest Times
• Harvesting Methods

• Storing Vegetables

1. Storage of Home-Grown Vegetables
2. Harvesting and Storing Fresh Garden Vegetables
3. Storing Food for Safety and Quality

• Saving Seeds

1. Saving Seed
2. Storing Vegetable & Flower Seed

Mountain Fruit Growing

• Colorado Mountain Gardener Blog

Site Selection & Preparation

• Location: Aspect

1. Finding Your Hot Spot
2. Mountain Microclimates

• Water, Watering Rights, No Water

1. Colorado Water Law and How to Garden Anyway

• Soil Preparation

1. Making the Most of Mountain Soil
2. CSU Soil Testing Lab

Selecting Species & Varieties

• Native, Small Fruits vs. Fruit Trees

1. Currants, Gooseberries and Jostaberries
2. Growing Blackberries in Colorado Gardens
3. Raspberries for the Home Garden
4. Growing Grapes in Colorado Gardens
5. Strawberries for the Home Garden
6. Feral Apples and Chokecherries
7. Growing Tree Fruit in Colorado Gardens

• Bloom, Pollination, & Harvest Times

1. Pollination of Fruit Trees

• Special Considerations

Growing Your Fruit

• Planting Time
• Watering

1. Colorado Water Law and How to Garden Anyway

• Critter / Pest Considerations

1. Gardening with Mountain Wildlife
2. Homeowner’s Guide: Pesticide Use around the Home and Garden
3. Homeowner’s Guide: Alternative Pesticide Management for the Lawn and Garden

• Upkeep: Pruning, Fertilizing, Winter Preparation

1. Training and Pruning Fruit Trees
2. Pruning
3. Fertilizing Fruit Trees
4. Mulches for Home Grounds

Herbs

Herbs

• Herbs
• Sage

Additional Resources

• Guide to Washing Fresh Produce
• Health Benefits and Safe Handling of Salad Greens
• Storing Food for Safety and Quality
• Drying Fruits
• Drying Vegetables
• Leathers and Jerkies
• Freezing Fruits
• Freezing Vegetables
• Canning Fruits
• Making Jellies
• Canning Vegetables
• Food Preservation Without Sugar or Salt