starting from scratch - Ask Extension
Hello. My boyfriend and I are in the process of digging land in the Conifer area in the hope of creating a self sustaining home and garden. Do you hav...
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starting from scratch #380992
Asked January 02, 2017, 5:44 PM EST
Hello. My boyfriend and I are in the process of digging land in the Conifer area in the hope of creating a self sustaining home and garden. Do you have any insight as to the best way to start prepping the mountainous soil for crops? thanks!
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
CSU Extension has several good fact sheets on gardening at elevation. I am including links to them below. To begin, you'll do well to start by choosing your garden site and then having that soil tested to determine what amendments will be appropriate. Soil test kits are available here at the CSU Extension office at the Jeffco fairgrounds; the soil test results (CSU Soil testing lab, $35) include levels of sodium, potassium, nitrogen, salinity, pH, % organic matter, plus recommendations regarding what to add to improve the tilth of your native soil.
With the shorter growing season at higher elevations, cool season crops do the best. You can extend the season with row covers, green houses, etc.
In addition to the links below, check out the Gilpin County Extension Fruit and Veggie web page: http://www.extension.colostate.edu/gilpin/hort/veg%20fruit.html
Mountain Horticulture page: http://www.extension.colostate.edu/gilpin/hort/hort.shtml .
Colorado Mountain Gardening Basics: http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07244.pdf
Vegetable Gardening in the Mountains: http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07248.pdf
Best regards,
CSU Extension has several good fact sheets on gardening at elevation. I am including links to them below. To begin, you'll do well to start by choosing your garden site and then having that soil tested to determine what amendments will be appropriate. Soil test kits are available here at the CSU Extension office at the Jeffco fairgrounds; the soil test results (CSU Soil testing lab, $35) include levels of sodium, potassium, nitrogen, salinity, pH, % organic matter, plus recommendations regarding what to add to improve the tilth of your native soil.
With the shorter growing season at higher elevations, cool season crops do the best. You can extend the season with row covers, green houses, etc.
In addition to the links below, check out the Gilpin County Extension Fruit and Veggie web page: http://www.extension.colostate.edu/gilpin/hort/veg%20fruit.html
Mountain Horticulture page: http://www.extension.colostate.edu/gilpin/hort/hort.shtml .
Colorado Mountain Gardening Basics: http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07244.pdf
Vegetable Gardening in the Mountains: http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07248.pdf
Best regards,
Hi again,
Two more Fact Sheets that you may find useful:
Two more Fact Sheets that you may find useful:
- Colorado Gardening: Challenge to Newcomers http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07220.pdf
- Sustainable Landscaping: http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07243.pdf
Thank you so much!
You are welcome!
You may be interested in some classes being offered by Jefferson County Extension:
Master Gardener Certificate and Single Day Classes ($60 per day): http://jeffco.extension.colostate.edu/horticulture/
Spring Gardening Symposium http://jeffco.extension.colostate.edu/2016/12/20/beginning-vegetable-gardening-jump-start-garden-right-way/
You may be interested in some classes being offered by Jefferson County Extension:
Master Gardener Certificate and Single Day Classes ($60 per day): http://jeffco.extension.colostate.edu/horticulture/
Spring Gardening Symposium http://jeffco.extension.colostate.edu/2016/12/20/beginning-vegetable-gardening-jump-start-garden-right-way/
