Comments on: Is vegetable gardening in the Rocky Mountains possible?

By: High Altitude garden

High Altitude garden — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:38:23 +0000

[...] http://gardening.coloradohighaltitude.com/VegetableGardening/index.php http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/22/is-vegetable-gardening-in-the-rocky-mountains-possibl... [...]

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:30:06 +0000

I have some property at 12000 ft in the CO Rockies. Been thinking about testing out some high altitude vegetable gardening. Any advice on vegetables i should start experimenting with?

By: KC

KC — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:22:13 +0000

Tina, I live at 7100 feet in southwest montana and would love to know what type of corn you have been successful at. Just completed a 20×40 greenhouse as well, last one was way too small! KC

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:40:29 +0000

Thanks for visiting and giving us your tips. I’m always interested in hearing from gardeners in even more challenging conditions than my own.

By: sue

sue — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:11:42 +0000

I live at 8250 and do extensive vegetable gardening relatively succesfully. It’s definately a challange and a work in progress! I have all sorts of little tricks I have developed over the years and I keep learning. I think that’s why I like it so much- I get to make it up as I go along. As far as the elk (we call them hooved locusts) I have always had dogs to keep them at bay. Last season the elk started moving back in (my best dog just got too old and his sidekick died, and her young replacement just didn’t have it in her) so I purchased an Akbash (a Turkish Livestock Guardinan Dog) that is shaping up into a pretty amazing garden guardian dog! I also have cats to keep the small critters away. Of course with the dogs and cats having free rein that brings up the issue of them trampling (or using for a litter box) the beds, but I make it work.
oh, I do grow my tomatoes in a adapted green house and start every thing by seed in order to get suitable varieties.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:58:21 +0000

Greetings Kathy, Re: English name for Perper, I seem to remember my sister refering to it as ” Parslane”. It comes up late in the season so it has to be protected from crowding. Richard

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:11:46 +0000

Greetings, I garden at 6700 ft in the Sierra Range. Some things grow well, like rubarb, mints, dandylions, mustard, perper, cumatch. The last two I don’t know the English names. Tomatos I grow in my small green house I plan to make a larger one. When I was in Armenia for a few months I found and returned with many things that grew well at the elevation I live at, it wasn’t until I returned I realzed the Caucasian Mountains are closer to the equator than we are here. Best to you Richard

By: GivenTrees

GivenTrees — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:51:47 +0000

Not only do I grow a serious vegetable garden at high alltitude I teach it! No, not trying to impress or show off, I just dig dirt no matter where I am, and so happens I believe we are neighbors, just down a scosh bit from Evergreen. Yes, I finally fence the bloody elk out of my yard, not as expensive as we all ready had a short fence. Cold crops are key, but I’ve been at this for 25 years at 7,ooo feet. Perhaps I can help. Yes, I grew sweet corn in my front yard, and yes, this year we had a good crop, albeit a terrible water hog. Organic all the way, except that I haven’t paid the USDA for that certification. Instead I say, “Grown with Conscience” I guess the proof is in my freezor, only haveing to buy greens in the winter, and I am looking at serious remedies for that as well. Would love to chat, Tina

By: Oldroses

Oldroses — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:35:39 +0000

Any Master Gardener will tell you to call your local extension office. They will be more than happy to tell you/send you a list of vegetables that grow in your specific area. I received a call just like this yesterday when I was working on the Helpline. The list, along with other helpful growing info, is in the mail to the caller. All free of charge, of course.

By: Kathy Purdy

Kathy Purdy — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 23:17:36 +0000

Seeds Trust I knew but had forgotten it was high altitude. I reviewed Coleman's book and some others about extending the season here. There are also cold climate books in my Amazon store. I think the tomatoes in a hanging basket is a most excellent idea. And I had never heard of the waru waru system. Thank you one and all for your responses. My correspondent was Anne from Evergreen, and at this point I haven't heard back from her.