In Gunnison, the odds are against valley farmers and home gardeners before their trowels even hit the ground. A short vegetation period, harsh climate, changing rainfall and altitude pose many challenges for gardeners. It takes patience and know-how to reap a bounty by the end of the season.
Clif Knopf, certified master gardener, works in the garden center at Fullmer’s Ace Hardware. Knopf said there must be adequate planning before gardening begins. Gardeners need to understand the commitment that is required to keep things alive and growing.
“Make sure you have good sunshine,” said Knopf. “The sun is still moving north into summer, so a sunny spot may not have enough sun in two months.”
Starting at the beginning of the season means protecting outdoor plants from the cold. The average date of permanent freezing, or when there is no more frost on the ground on cool mornings, is around June 10th.
Cooling frames, which are lidded boxes in which plants are housed, are becoming increasingly popular. Plants stay warm at night with the lid closed. During the day, hot air escapes by opening the lid.
Tire houses or low tunnels work similarly, but are often cheaper, easier to install, and not necessarily permanent structures. They can be made with tires covered with plastic or frost cloth. Structures extend the short growing season and protect the plants.
Sol Food Gardens’ Sierra Fairfield-Smith provides services from gardening advice to installation and full maintenance. During this year’s Gunnison Valley Producers Guild conference, she gave a talk on backyard gardening.
She discussed the pros and cons of building raised beds or planting them directly in the ground. “In a raised bed, you have fewer weeds and less maintenance overall. Weeds have a harder time getting into raised beds and maintenance can be easier as they are lifted off the ground, ”she said. “If you’re digging rodents like ground squirrels, you can put hardware wipes under the ground to keep them out.”
Be careful which animals or rodents visit the area. If deer are frequent visitors, install a protective fence or some kind of barricade around the garden beds.
If there is clay soil or a high water table, raised beds improve water drainage.
Gardening right in the ground is easier to set up, uses less materials, and is not as expensive as installing a raised bed, Fairfield-Smith explained. “Build the floor with a bed of lasagna or remove weeds and grasses from the floor, change the floor, and then start growing. If it’s a large area like a farm, growing in the ground is more efficient for larger machines to navigate. “
Early crops – lettuce, kale, spinach, peas – can be safe bets for early sowing.
Before planting, check the soil for biological activity and nutrient density. Dark soils are full of humus, organic matter that forms in the soil. Most soils require additional organic matter, and compost is the best way to change it. Too loamy or sandy? Add compost.
“Adding fallicide-free composted cow dung, llama dung, nitrogen-rich chicken litter, and composted kitchen waste – all of these are great ways to work into your soil,” said Susan Wyman of Gunnison Gardens.
Spread an inch or two of compost on top and work in the top six inches of soil. The next step in understanding the science is taking the soil to the Colorado State University expansion office for analysis.
“The biological activity in the soil makes our plants grow, taste better, and have the nutrients we need,” said Wyman.
Don’t despair trying to grow on a barren smudge of dirt. Even “dirt, the sluggish, lifeless stuff you sweep from the kitchen floor,” can be changed with compost over a season or two, Wyman said. She compared the millions of microorganisms in the soil microbiome with the human gut microbiome – both are needed for health.
Knopf said knowing your soil temperature is critical to the seeds germinating.
“A successful harvest depends on how high the soil temperature needs to be to start germination. If the soil is not warm enough, the seed will rest until it reaches the right temperature. “
Starting with seeds can be more economical, but it is usually more work. Working from scratch or planting babies is better for beginners or those looking for a jump start.
“Containers make growing vegetables a lot easier without taking up a lot of space,” said Knopf. “Tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, and most herbs make good containers.” Herbs can grow in a properly sized container year round if they are in full sunlight and given enough water.
When a gardener leaves town, hiring a plant sitter or setting up a drip irrigation system with an automatic timer can be a good investment.
Fairfield-Smith recommended creating a garden that would act as its own ecosystem to repel pests and attract beneficial insects. Planting certain herbs and flowers like marigolds or sunflowers can attract insects like aphids and distract them from the edible products.
The “good beetles” include ladybugs, bees, praying mantises and worms.
Knopf said he enjoyed on-site consultations with customers just to talk about plants.
“Master gardeners always want to see what other gardeners are doing and develop solutions for them,” he said.
“Don’t be afraid to experiment,” added Wyman. “What’s the worst that can happen? Don’t be intimidated. “
(Morgan Schaefer can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or morgan@gunnisontimes.com.)
TIPS & INSIGHT
For more tips and insights into gardening at home, visit the Gunnison Valley Producers Guild YouTube channel. See the recordings of the 7th annual farm-to-table conference “How to be Food Independent” with the keynote by Dr. Adrian Fielder, Sue Wyman from Gunnison Gardens and Mountain Roots.
