High Altitude Gardening Classes and Resources
A gardening geek? Who, me? (innocent gaze)
Posting the most recent presentation from two classes I regular teach at our terrific local libraries. There are so many great people in my community, and it gives me a charge to empower everyone to learn the difference between a real tomato and a cardboard grocery store tomato. Download a PDF of the most recent workshops from the links below, and scroll down for more local resources.
>> Get Seed Starting 101 Workshop 2019 (March 9) (PDF)
>> Get Seed Resources Document 2019 (March 9) (PDF)
>> Get Seed Starting Calculator (March 9) (Excel file)
>> Get High Altitude Food Gardening Workshop 2019 (Feb 9/23) (PDF file)
Other Resources
Seeds Trust: https://seedstrust.com Food, flowers, grasses adapted to Colorado
Penn Parmenter: https://www.pennandcordsgarden.com/miss-penns-mountain-seeds.html
Peaceful Valley (organic): https://groworganic.com
High Mowing Seeds: (organic/non-GMO): https://highmowingseeds.com
Territorial Seed (look for organic in catalog/listings): https://territorialseed.com
Sustainable Seed Company (certified organic): https://sustainableseedco.com
Baker Creek Seeds (luscious “garden porn” catalog): https://rareseeds.com
The Potato Garden: https://potatogarden.com (Colorado organic seed potatoes – order soon!)
The Garlic Store: https://thegarlicstore.com (Organic seed garlic in CO)
Beauty Beyond Belief (lovely flowers, Boulder-based): https://bbbseed.com
Denali Seeds (serious cool weather varieties!): https://bestcoolseeds.com
Get Some Professional Help:
GivenTrees: https://giventrees.com Expert counsel, building, and education
Sundance Gardens Nursery: https://sundancegardens.com/garden-center.html
A great resource and they know what they’re talking about
Colorado State Extension Office: https://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/pubs.html (fact sheets on everything from deer-resistant plants to pest management)
Penn and Cord Parmenter: https://www.pennandcordsgarden.com
Great seeds, great blog, and they sell plans for an incredible greenhouse
Local Resources:
Evergreen Garden Club: https://www.evergreengardenclub.org/
Evergreen Community Garden: https://evergreencommunitygarden.org
Sundance Gardens Nursery: https://sundancegardens.com/garden-center.html
Jefferson County Library: Search the catalog at https://jeffcolibrary.org
Check your zone and approximate frost dates: https://allthingsplants.com/apps/calendar/
Surround yourself with support: The COHighAltitudeGardeners Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/340767049442238/ is one example of splendid high-altitude conversation groups where you can ask and answer questions
*Check your soil and make it healthy: Soil test kits are available at the CSU Extension office in Jeffco Fairgrounds, or at many local nurseries – call ahead to be sure. Jared’s and Echter’s are among the closest ones who have these kits.
Raise it up: Easy raised beds can be built with stone, cinderblock, or 2″ x 12″ lumber and a few screws, or use these super easy corners: https://www.gardeners.com/buy/raised-bed-gardening-and-garden-boxes/raised-bed-corners/
Need soil? A-1 Organics sells organic planter’s mix. See them at https://a1organics.com/ and ask them for the nearest retail outlet.
Protect it! Do you need a greenhouse, walls of water, cold frame, low tunnels? The books Four-Season Harvest and Winter Garden Handbook by Elliot Coleman …actually anything by him….is an indispensible resource.
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Wow, this is terrific – congrats! This is great substantive information, beautifully and simply presented. I wish someone would do that for where I live (Zone 7, and a whole lot easier than your neck of the woods.)
Thanks for the tip about the kelp solution – I lose a lot of plants after transplanting. I do try to be gentle! I don’t know what the story is with that.
Thanks for another great post.
Thanks, Gardenarian! The kelp thing has changed my life, I swear. Taught to me by a long-time local gardener who always seems to have these giant, magnificent specimens growing….so I paid attention 🙂 In your neck of the woods I imagine that a good mulch would be super-valuable to keep the soil moisture consistent?
GENIUS! What an awesome guide! You are truly amazing. Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge with the rest of us!
I attended your presentation at Evergreen library the other Saturday and remember you said you had a lot of strawberry plants you wanted to give away. I’m the Chaplain at Mt View youth services center (youth detention facility) and they are hoping to restart their gardening program for the students there. I thought you might be able to donate your plants to them and give them a head start!
Betty Marler treatment center for girls is on the same campus and they might be interested too. 🙂
Claire
720-771-0517
Claire, I am so sorry that I didn’t receive notification of your comment here. I would love to donate plants to the centers any time. Fall is also a great time to transplant – early September is great. I can easily pot up two dozen plants and bring them to whomever can use them.