Barriers to Gardening in Colorado (and how to do it anyway)
posted by: Amber Johnson
Last year, Mile High Mamas was introduced to The Urban Farm Co. a local company that makes it simple to grow your own fresh healthy food right in your backyard. They install high-yield organic vegetable gardens using a great soil mix and easy gardening method that allows new gardeners to grow a lot of food in a small space. And perhaps most importantly, after an installation they provide extensive help and education through the season to ensure that you’re successful.
Over the years, we’ve had to overcome almost every gardening barrier imaginable in Colorado. Whether it’s rabbits, a dry climate, or bad soil, gardening in Colorado is rarely a cinch. Luckily, after installing over 1,000 vegetable gardens in backyards around Denver and the Front Range, we’ve learned how to overcome almost every challenge Colorado has to offer. - 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 and Kids
- Good luck with that!
Want to learn more? Get additional gardening tips from Rocklin tree arborists.
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
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