Well, let's see. For starters there's Beans, Beets, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes, Radishes, Tomatoes...
Surprised? All of these yummy veggies will grow at high altitudes. Just give 'em a little TLC plus O.F. (organic fertilizer!)
AND! Time your garden differently.
* The heartache of a Memorial Day frost is pretty much guaranteed at altitudes of 6,000 feet or higher.
Garden shops advise April/May planting for vegetables and that's why we feel left out.
* We mountain gardeners need to plant on June 1st and expect a later harvest.
* May nights are too cold for little seedlings. Mature plants are much tougher. They can handle cool night temperatures in September.
Get creative. Most quality seed shops offer cold-hardy and fast-growing varieties. You won't find see this produce at grocery store and the names might not be familiar... But, there are many varieties of tomatoes that mature in less than 60 days. (Thank the hybridizing experts in Russia and Canada for these breakthroughs.)
Plant favorite veggies with a 90-day growing cycle. Experiment with root vegetables that mature in 120 days. The soils stays warm, protecting potatoes.Raised beds help a great deal.
Soil warms faster in the spring, helping seeds to sprout quicker. With raised beds, you can easily amend the soil. Veggies need lots of soil nutrients to produce a good harvest and mountain soil is generally short on what's needed.
Good Veggie Choices for High Altitude Gardens
- Bush and Pole Beans = 60 days
- Beets = 50-70 days
- Carrots = 90 days
- Sweet Corn = 60 - 90 days
- Cucumbers = 90 days
- Lettuce = 70-90 days
- Peas = 60 days
- Potatoes = 90 - 120 days
- Radishes = 30 days
- Spinach = 45 - 90 days
- Tomatoes* = 55 - 90 days
* Popular Beefsteak Tomatoes grow too slow but other varieties do very well. 90-day growth cycle or shorter: Alaskan Fancy, Aztec, Orange Blossom, Health Kick Hybrid, Abraham Lincoln Heirloom, Russian Heirloom.. and many more. Become friends with the folks at the Good Seed Company. They test their organic seeds on the Canadian border and they know what grows!
16 comments:
Can you give some names of the vegetable varieties you are growing right now?
I live in Estes Park, CO and purchased a tomato plant at our local Farmer's Market. I repotted the plant in a larger container, let it get plenty of sun on our deck, and keep it appropriately moist and fertilized. It is thriving with plenty of flowers. HOWEVER, something happens once the flowers dry up. The tomatoes do not grow and the bloom just drops off. I have only one good sized tomato. Any suggestions?
You must hand polinate your blooms by gently touching each of the flowers several time. I live at high altitude also and we have almost no bees, so all my plants need to be hand polinated...
Great Blog! I have been high altitude gardening for 3 years- this will be my 4th year at almost 8,000 ft in Colo Rockies (also high mtn desert). Sharing your knowledge and experiences helps others (even myself as I am always learning) get advice they need to grow at such high altitudes with unique such needs. This is a blessing because many try and try- then give up! I do not have a garden specific blog but I do try to journal my experiences when i get a chance, feel free to check it out http://rkymtnpath.blogspot.com/ and thank you again for sharing your knowledge!
rainajane
Park City is higher in altitude than Salt Lake, but I live in a much higher as well as More northern than you. Come to Pinedale ,Wyoming area and tell me how easy it is to grow a garden then. I grew up in Murray so I do have a knowledge of what I am talking about. But when you try to have a garden in an area like where I am at,7300ft, then you learn to have much perseverence when it comes to growing a garden.
Gary, Daniel, Wyoming.
I have a cabin in Wasatch county between Heber and Hanna and I am at 9000 feet. Do I dare try it?
Hi, Neighbor;
Never hurts to try. Find a protected, sunny spot. Lay flat rocks between your veggie plantings. They keep your soil warm at night. And, consider planting a circle of marigolds around the veggie garden -- that might keep the deer and elk from enjoying your bounty!
Thanks for the note. :)
I am going to put in a 8x20 greenhouse, heat it and try and grow all winter.
I'm at 7000 feet in Summit county. Is it going to work?? Any advice would be well appreciated.
Hi, Alan!
If you'll build me an 8 x 20 greenhouse I'll give you all the tips you need!! Just kidding. :D
I think you'll do fine. Put the greenhouse in a protected area, away from wind. Hopefully you'll get deep drifts of snow and that will provide insulation and warmth, outside the greenhouse. Placw half-moon curved wire over the raised beds. Drape plastic over those hoops to retain more warmth.
IF we have a crazy winter like last year (-8 degrees in November before deep snows provided insulation) you may need an electrical cord and heat source to avoid frozen seedlings.
Thanks for the note. Keep me posted on your progress!
Hi Kate!
Great home page!
I live at 9300 feet in Bolivia SA (after living my whole life in CO).I once rode my mtb on the Wasatch trail- awesome area!
I want to plant herbs in containers on my patio, but have the intense sun all day, some winds and a 3 month rainy season (rainstorm every day). What herbs would you suggest and other growing hints you can give?
Muchas gracias! Anna
Im at Pine Valley were 6500 feet...this will be my first garden here. Will Asparagas grow here?
Hi, Gail;
Yes, asparagus does well here (USDA zone 5) However -- it takes 2 years for your asparagus plants to reach maturity and provide you a first harvest. Amending the soil with organic compost is a big help for this veggie. :)
I have been veggie gardening at 9000' in Crested Butte, Colorado for 10 yrs. I have great success overall.
Some things I plant from seed, others I transplant starts. I do not ever attempt to grow tomoatoes. Unless you plan on taking them in at night, or if you absolutely will not get frost in August, then go for it. Otherwise, don't bother.
Raised beds are a MUST for cold climates. I suggest cider block raised beds.
Multiple frost blankets in various weights. I cover my gardens most nights in summer and during long dry windy periods I cover also, this helps greatly reduce moisture loss. Creates some shade from intense high altitude sun, and provides a stable microclimate under the blanket that the plants thrive under.
Reduce plant stress as much as possible by diligent thinning and appropriate watering.
Encourage bumble bees and other pollinators by planting lots of flowering shrubs etc. Our bumble bee population was diminshed last year.
check our out community garden page at facebook: Crested Butte Edible Gardens!
Hello, I'm here in Grand County, Co. Been gardening ten years at 8,400 feet.
I found the flux of temp. From morning, noon, night is too drastic for tomatoes to set a fruit.
A green house or dragging it in and out or using both frost cloth and shade cloth through out the day is about your only option.
I use shade cloth on almost all my vegetables, it multi purposes as climate control, water retention and protects the plants from the inevitable hail and down pours!
Hey just wanted to pop in... I've planted gardens in Rico, Colorado, Telluride, Colorado and Leadville, Colorado most of these tips are for lower than those areas. In Rico you can get a fine crop of undersized carrots that taste out of this world, small potatoes, and leaf lettuce.
Hi, I live at 7500 ft( HIGH DESERT) and have grown: yellow squash, lettuces, spinaches, kales, broccoli, corn, bush beans, climbing beans, cantelope, tobacco, onions, peppers, chiles, tomatoes. For me, mulch is key. I water every few days and its fine. Its the intense sun I have to worry about. SHADE ROWS this SUMMER :-)
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