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SEASONAL GARDENING IN DENVER
There is a growing health and wellness trend around the world. Aside from exercise and fitness regimens, people nowadays are also conscious of their food intake. Whereas it was a novel concept before, eating food made from organic ingredients appeals to many people. This may be why there is also a growing interest in gardening and growing your produce.
Spring Gardening
When gardening in Denver during Spring, it is best to prepare the condition of the general landscape first. Clean up your raised beads by removing dead plants left over from last year. Prevent overcrowding and replant perennials so that they will fully grow and mature. Refresh and lightly prune ground cover plantings. Capture rainwater using rain barrels. A total of 110 gallons of water can be collected by using two sealable lid barrels. Soak the roots of roses, shrubs, trees, and fruits. Soil health and quality should be the topmost priority at the onset of the outdoor gardening season. Do not let the soil to be compacted. Do not dig, work, or walk in the garden soil when it is frozen or wet. Prepare your lawns by mowing them. Lawn weeds should be removed. Take care of your vegetable garden by removing old vegetable roots as you work. Start with planting crops such as warm season vegetable and herb seeds such as pepper, ground cherry, tomatillo, tomato, eggplant, basil, chives, lemon balm, parsley, perilla, and tarragon indoors. Plant ornamental plants indoors, then transport them outdoors mid to late May. These ornamental plants are cosmos, cardinal climber, marigolds, nicotiana, moonflower, and alyssum.
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Summer Gardening
Colorado's planting and growing season varies from other places since its duration is shorter than others. There was the unusual appearance of snow in May and the frequent rain showers and thunderstorms in June.
The trick is to plant your crops earlier to extend your growing season. One way to do this is to have a personal greenhouse. Another trick for a successful summer garden is getting rid of unwanted seedlings. The rationale is that not all seeds will eventually grow, so when the roots grow too close, you must sacrifice to pull out the ones you think will not mature. Also, be prepared with the possibility that your plants will be prone to attacks from different animals, such as birds and squirrels, and from the sun's harshness. One technique is putting a net on your plants and positioning a shade above the crops. Watching out for mildew would help, as it can produce fungus problems. Do not water spray the leaves as, in actuality, wet leaves lose water due to evaporation. It would help if you also remembered fertilizing your crops throughout the growing season.
Fall Gardening
One of the most common misconceptions is that you cannot grow a garden during the fall season in Denver. Seasoned farmers claim it is feasible and even recommended to grow a garden during Fall, which is in late July to early September.
It could be challenging to believe that Fall is conducive to gardening, but it has some grain of truth. Farmers say that cold-season vegetables, like radishes, lettuce, kale, spinach, sugar snap peas, and chard, yield abundant harvests when planted during Fall. Even exotic vegetables such as tatsoi, mache, sorrel, Hon Tsai Tai, and Chinese cabbage are greens that flourish in cooler temperatures.
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Planting crops during summertime in Colorado may cause them to "bolt" during June and July. Bolting is defined as the premature emergence of flowering stems, subsequently stopping the crop's leaf production. Planting these same crops in a different Season, say, August or September, allows for the proper germination and maturity of seeds along with the cooling down of the temperature. This also gives the soil time to "heal" and "recharge" during winter, making it more conducive for crops like purple heirloom tomatoes, kohlrabi, and beans planted in the spring.
It is using a Cold Frame. Stretching the length of the fall planting season, starting in the spring until further into winter, can be done by attaching a cold frame to your raised beds. Cold frames create insulation and a micro-climate for plants. It makes it possible to harvest greens during snow-covered December. This is also good profit-wise since you can gather ahead of other farmers, enjoying higher profitable gains.
Barriers to Gardening in Denver
No matter the season, there will be several barriers to gardening in Denver.
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These are the following:
Shade. Some crops thrive in limited light. Some crops, such as microgreens, must be out in the sun. The trick is to harvest them in the shortest possible time.
Space. There should be ample space for your crops. The good news is that you do not need big space for this, as a 4x4 square is all you need to start planting.
Soil. The ground in Colorado could be of better quality. Good soil is mixed with the not-so-good soil before planting commences to augment this.
Other factors, such as pests needing more technical know-how, can challenge your gardening journey. It would help if you never gave up. Instead, take note of everything you've encountered and use these lessons for the next planting season.
