7 Barriers to Gardening in Colorado
- Shade
- Check out our post about which crops grow well in limited light. If you really have no direct light, try growing Micro Greens and harvest them very quickly.
- We use a Solar Finder that reads sunlight in each location in your yard if you need help.
- Space
- 4’x4’ is all you need to start growing your own food. If you don’t have the land, consider the “hell strip” between the sidewalk and street. Consider a friend’s house. Or a neighbor’s yard—offer to share the produce!
- Soil
- If you live in Colorado, join the club. The soil here usually just sucks. Luckily, we’ve spent more money and time than we’d like to admit developing a good soil mix for raised beds. Check out our blog on how to amend your soil each season.
- Pests (dogs, rabbits, squirrels)
- Depending on the pest, we have the answer. The catch-all solution is to use our standard PVC frame with a giant net over the top and clamped to the bed. That will keep out just about everything.
- For rabbits only, we suggest drilling grade stakes onto the outside of your raised bed. Buy the 3’ Poultry Fencing from Home Depot, cut it in half the long way, and staple it to the grade stakes and directly to the raised bed.
- For dogs only, train them! It will be a lifelong investment that will pay off in the future.
- Vacation during summer
- Weed and harvest before you leave, turn on the drip irrigation, and enjoy your vacation. If you have a shade/hail protective cover, leave that on too.
- Know-How
- The majority of humans for the past 10,000 years have been growing food (except for the last 100 years or so). It’s in your genes. You can make it happen.
- Get a quote on an Urban Farm Company garden and the rest is easy.
- Your Significant Other
- Good luck!
What else? Let us know what other barriers you’re facing. We can help you overcome most things…we’ve already figured it out. Ask a question on our website and we’ll give you our best answer!
Cool nights are another problem
Do you recommend raised beds or in ground beds in colorado? I had raised beds for about 2 years and they did great (this was 6-8 years ago). Then I switched to in ground beds and I haven’t had as much success. Do you think it’s just a change in weather or the different in beds? I am tempted to go back to raised beds – less weeding, easier to turn soil, can cover the beds if necessary – but that is a big time and financial endeavor. Any information or guidance would be so helpful!!
Thank you
Thanks for reaching out Carolyn! We definitely recommend raised beds for a variety of reasons. Like you said, they’re easier to work with- less bending, you can control the inputs, you can fill them with great soil, and you can attach other add-ons. Working in-ground in Colorado can be very hard because it takes a long time to get your soil into good shape. The veggie farmers who do this have their soil management down after years of working it. Most home gardeners in Colorado spend way too much time, money, and effort getting in-ground beds ready, often with limited success, which is why having raised beds is a great alternative. They also look good in the landscape!
What about combating hail. I am moving to the Springs from WI and hail is not a big issue here. Huge in COS. Recommendations?