Colorado vegetable gardening: When, what, where to plant and how … – Coloradoan

Starting A Vegetable Garden

There’s something about the thought of growing your own fresh vegetables that makes the world seem a little more like a greener place. It’s also a good workout for your muscles, and a great stress reliever.

The COVID pandemic changed lives in many ways and gardening was one of them, as grocery supply chain issues and social distancing increased the number of people who turned to vegetable gardening.With so many new gardeners in Colorado facing the state’s unique growing challenges, here are tips on when to plant, what to plant, how to plant and how to water your vegetable gardens.How the COVID pandemic grew gardening and who it most influenced to start digging inThere were 18.3 million new gardeners in 2021, according to the National Gardening Association.

35% of U.S. households grow vegetables, fruits and other food, according to the organization.

Between 2020 and 2021, the number of millennials who garden increased 65%; Gen X saw an increase of 44% and 33% for Gen Z.

In 2021, 60% of overall respondents and 74% of millennials said in an Axiom Market report they had an increased interest in gardening due to the pandemic.

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Sunlight most critical decision when choosing a vegetable garden site

• Choose a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight daily, which is a requirement of most vegetables.
• The more tender plants tend to require more sunlight, while less tender vegetables can handle somewhat less sunlight.
• If you have a choice, a site with morning sunlight is preferable to one with late-afternoon sunlight because mornings generally have cooler air temperature.
• A site southeast of a building is ideal because the structure will provide some protection from wind and will radiate heat.

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Drip irrigation system key to efficient, effective watering of your vegetable garden

• Installing a drip irrigation system is easy, saves water with more than 90% efficiency by slowly watering only your plants, improves yields while reducing disease and saves you time.
• These can be added to an existing sprinkler line, or you can add from your outdoor hose bib.
• You can either use a main drip line into which you add drip emitters at intervals determined by plant location, or inline tubing with drip emitters already in the tubing spaced at intervals.
• For information on how to set up your drip system, visit extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/drip-irrigation-home-gardens-4-702/.