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
- Critter Considerations
- Soil & Amendments
- Soils, Fertilizers and Soil Amendments
- Vegetable Garden Soil Management and Fertilization
- Soil Preparation for a Vegetable Garden
- Making the Most of Mountain Soil
- CSU Soil Testing Lab
- Choosing a Soil Amendment
- Fertilizing the Vegetable Garden
- Vegetable Garden- Nitrogen Recommendations
- Water, Water Rights, No Water
- Garden Layout
Selecting Species and Varieties
- Warm Season vs. Cool Season
- Vegetable Planting Guide
- Number of Days
- Choosing Varieties
- Choosing and Growing Adapted Vegetable Varieties
- Vegetables that Grow Well over 7,000 Feet
- Preferred Vegetables Fruits- University of Idaho
- Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash, Melons
- Swiss Chard
Planting
- Seeds vs. Plants
- Planting Times
- Planting Techniques
- Interplanting
- Succession Planting
The Growing Season
- Weeding
- Watering
- Water Conservation in the Vegetable Garden
- Colorado Water Law and How to Garden Anyway
- No Water Vegetable Garden
- Pest Management
- Homeowner’s Guide: Pesticide Use around the Home and Garden
- Homeowner’s Guide: Alternative Pesticide Management for the Lawn and Garden
- Extending the Growing Season
- Extending the Growing Season
- Frost Protection and Extending the Growing Season
- Mulches for the Vegetable Garden
- Growing Plants from Seed
Harvest
- Ideal Harvest Times
- Harvesting Methods
- Storing Vegetables
- Storage of Home-Grown Vegetables
- Harvesting and Storing Fresh Garden Vegetables
- Storing Food for Safety and Quality
- Saving Seeds
Mountain Fruit Growing
Site Selection & Preparation
- Location: Aspect
- Water, Watering Rights, No Water
- Soil Preparation
Selecting Species & Varieties
- Native, Small Fruits vs. Fruit Trees
- Currants, Gooseberries and Jostaberries
- Growing Blackberries in Colorado Gardens
- Raspberries for the Home Garden
- Growing Grapes in Colorado Gardens
- Strawberries for the Home Garden
- Feral Apples and Chokecherries
- Growing Tree Fruit in Colorado Gardens
- Bloom, Pollination, & Harvest Times
- Special Considerations
Growing Your Fruit
- Planting Time
- Watering
- Critter / Pest Considerations
- Gardening with Mountain Wildlife
- Homeowner’s Guide: Pesticide Use around the Home and Garden
- Homeowner’s Guide: Alternative Pesticide Management for the Lawn and Garden
- Upkeep: Pruning, Fertilizing, Winter Preparation