Thursday, June 18, 2015

Nothing Like Home Grown

It's hard to believe that some crops are ready for harvest after the last several weeks. The rain, hail and cold (take your pick) delayed or damaged fruits and vegetables this year. Plus it affected landscape plants and trees. Maybe you got lucky and storms went around you, not here in central Denver, we've had five hail storms. Despite the weather conditions my cool season leafy veggies and broccoli did pretty well. Radishes and green onions seemed to grow quicker than normal, maybe they felt our "over the rain" frustration, knowing how we yearned for something home grown! We've been enjoying fresh lettuce and kale for a few weeks and will enjoy some broccoli in our salad tonight.  It wasn't easy keeping all the rain from drenching these plants day after day. The easy tunnel system protected and kept them growing and happy.  After all they like cool weather and we had plenty in April, May and early June. 


Now it's time to turn the page and focus on warm-season crops.  This summer I'm just planting the basics - tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatillos and green beans. Basil will be direct seeded in the raised beds soon. And I might toss in some summer squash seeds once the garlic is harvested. This year I'm trying a ground cherry for the first time. Let's hope the rest of the summer weather is uneventful.
 

Monday, June 8, 2015

Keep Planting!

We're all in the same boat, no doubt named Noah.  As soils dry out be ready to plant more edibles to enjoy this summer.  Check the chart below for the planting or direct seeding window for veggies and some herbs.  The chart is divided between cool and warm season crops.  Most cool crops can be planted starting in mid-July for a fall crop (or sooner if this cool weather stays around).  Garlic can be planted in September or October, shallots too if you are in zone 5 or warmer.



Vegetable Planting Calendar for the Colorado Front Range
Add at least 2 weeks for higher elevations






 
 
CROP
COOL
SEASON
DAYS
TO
MATURITY
PLANT SEEDS or BULBS IN THE GROUND
PLANT
TRANSPLANTS
OUTSIDE
FALL SEED
Based on
Mid-Oct. Freeze
Arugula
30
April 15-June 1

Mid-Aug
Asparagus
Perennial

Plant crowns
April 15-May 15

Beets
60-65
May 1-May 15

Mid-July
Broccoli
70

April 1-May 15
End-July
Brussels Sprouts
80-95

April 1-May 15
Mid-July
Cabbage
60-70

April 1-May 15
Mid-July
Carrots
55-75
May 1-May 15

End July
Cauliflower
50-55

April 1-May 15
Mid-July
Cilantro
55-65
May 1- May 15
May 1 -  May 15
Mid-July
Chard-Swiss
50
April 15-July 15

Mid-July
Celery
85-110
March/Early April


Chinese (Napa) Cabbage
48-55

May 15-June 1
End July
Chives Onion
Perennial

May 15-Sept. 15

Chives Garlic
Perennial

May 15-Sept. 15

Collards
50-55


Mid-July
Garlic


Use Planting Bulbs
Mid-Sept
Mid-Oct
Horseradish
Perennial

May 15-June 15

Kale, Mustard Greens
50-55
April 15-May15

Early August
Kohlrabi
55
April 15-May15

Mid-
August
Lettuce Leaf
40-45
April 15-May15

Mid-Aug
Lettuce Head
70-80
April 15-May15

Early Aug.
Onion Bulb
100
April 15-May15


Onion Bunching
60-80
April 15-May15

Mid-July
Parsley
75
May 1-May 15
May 1 – May 15
Mid-July
Parsnips
85-120
April 15-May15


Peas – shell and snap
50-65
April 15-May15

Mid-July
Peas Edible Podded - snow
60


Mid-July
Potato Tubers
80-120
April 15-May15


“New” Potatoes
50-60 days
April 15-May15


Radishes
20-30
April 15-May15

Early Sept.
Rhubarb
Perennial

May 1 –June 15

Rutabaga
90-95
Early August

Early Aug
Shallots
110
April 15-May15

Early Sept. Zone 5 or warmer
Spinach
30-50
April 15-May15

Mid-Aug
Turnip
40-75
April 15-May15

End July
CROP
WARM
SEASON
DAYS
TO
MATURITY
PLANT SEEDS IN THE GROUND
PLANT
TRANSPLANTS
OUTSIDE
FALL
SEED
Based on Mid-Oct. Freeze
Basil
60-85
June 1-July 15
June 1 – August 15
Mid-July
Beans, Bush
45-50
May20-July  15

Mid-July
Beans, Pole
60-65
May 20-June 30


Corn, Sweet
65-80
May 20-June 15


Cucumber
Slicing
48-72
May 20-June 15

Mid-July
Cucumber
Pickling
58-58
May 20-July 1


Eggplant
60-80

May 20-June 10

Cantaloupe
85-120
May 20-June 10
May 20-June 10

Okra
55-65
June 10-July 15
June 10-July 15
Mid-July
New Zealand
Spinach
50-60
May 20-July 15

Mid-July
Pepper
70-80

May 20-June 10

Pumpkin
95-110
May 20-June 5
May 20-June 5

Squash
Summer
55-65
May 20-July 15
May 20-June 10
Mid-July
Squash
Winter
55-105
May 20-June 10
May 20-June 10

Tomato
60-85

May 20-June 20

Tomatillos
75-100

May 20-June 10

Watermelon
75-100

May 20-June 10