Symposium Sneak Peak: The 10 Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Colorado by Amy Bubar

Photo courtesy extension.unh.edu

The vegetable gardening season is over for most of us. And with winter just beginning, it might feel like next season is an eternity away. But the truth is that it’s never too early to start planning next year’s garden. In fact, now’s the prefect time to get started.

Peas ready to harvest, photo courtesy organicgardening.about.com

Peas are one of the earliest vegetables that can be planted in the spring. The rule of thumb is that they are planted around St. Patrick’s Day, which is really just right around the corner. That’s right, Pisum sativum seedlings can survive some frost, making them ideal to plant in March in Jefferson County. As long as the soil is at least 40^o and not too wet from the snow melt. you can plant pea seeds directly into the ground.  There is nothing better than seeing the first sign of gardening efforts when the slightest bit of green starts to poke through the soil in the spring.  Peas also play a very significant role in converting nitrogen in the atmosphere into a usable form within your garden.  This is beneficial to all all vegetables as it’s required for all plants to grow and produce vegetables.  

Are you interested in learning about nine more easy to grow vegetables? Would you like information about when to start vegetable seeds, which varietals thrive in Colorado, how to get the sweetest, most tender vegetables, what vegetables to plant together, how to save water – and how to do all this without having your vegetables succumb to weeds and disease?

Please join us at the Colorado Master Gardeners of Jefferson County 2017 Spring Gardening Symposium: Beginning Vegetable Gardening:  Jump Start your Garden the RIGHT way!, on Saturday, January 28, 2017 from 8:45 AM to 4:00 PM at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. We have planned a full day of vegetable gardening excitement for beginning and intermediate gardeners in particular. Morning sessions focus on planning your garden, soil and amendments, and seeds vs. transplants. Afternoon sessions focus on the top 10 easiest vegetables to grow in Colorado, growing vegetables in containers, and a session specifically on tomatoes. A lunch and learn class will cover adding flowers and herbs to your vegetable garden. The cost is $75, plus $10 if you’d like to attend the lunch and learn session.

Click here to register. If you’d like additional information, please call the Jefferson County Extension Master Gardener Hotline at 303-271-6620.

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