Gardening in a cold climate

[forestrymom]

We only have 30 frost free days a season, but I really want to put in a garden. What do I need to know? Where can I find info? I now people put in gardens and grow lettuce and a couple other short lived crops,b ut I would like to do tomatoes (can I grow them in a pot and bring them in at night?) and some others. TIA!

[honey-lilac]

I live in a high altitude location which does get more than 30 frost free days but not much. I just ordered my seeds last night and the important thing was that they're to be cold-season seeds (there's a lot of crops you can do) that aren't bothered by frosts. Most of mine are those and some herbs that I can just bring inside if it looks like it's going to be bad. I'd link you the site I ordered from but they're specifically for high altitudes and they don't do well in lower elevations, I'm sure you can find something for your area online though.

Also can you put up something like a greenhouse or something like that?

I'm totally not a green thumb so I'm sure people will have better advice, that was just my two cents.

[Denvergirlie]

cold crops will more thn likely do just fine, lettecue, cabbage, greens, etc.

But for tomatoes and things like peppers or other warm weather crops, you'll want some sort of a greenhouse.

We have more than 30 days frost free, but are zone 4 now, from 5b, so it's a change for us as well.

[Owen'nZoe]

I'm in a cold climate but with a slightly longer growing season, but you should come on over to the Digging in the Earth forum. There are several moms there with very short seasons who would have advice, I'm sure.

Personally, I think I'd be looking into hoop houses at the very least to extend the season a bit.

[forestrymom]

Originally Posted by honey-lilac

I live in a high altitude location which does get more than 30 frost free days but not much. I just ordered my seeds last night and the important thing was that they're to be cold-season seeds (there's a lot of crops you can do) that aren't bothered by frosts. Most of mine are those and some herbs that I can just bring inside if it looks like it's going to be bad. I'd link you the site I ordered from but they're specifically for high altitudes and they don't do well in lower elevations, I'm sure you can find something for your area online though.

Also can you put up something like a greenhouse or something like that?

I'm totally not a green thumb so I'm sure people will have better advice, that was just my two cents.

What altitude are you at? I'm at 6400. Not sure what's considered high altitude.

And thanks for the suggestion to visit the Diggin' in the Earth forum.

[alaskaberry]

I'm in Zone 1... we should start a Zone 1-2b tribe over in Diggin' in the Earth. Cause this is my first year and all I know is that everyone up here starts their stuff in greenhouses. Probably the same in your area?

[forestrymom]

Originally Posted by alaskaberry

I'm in Zone 1... we should start a Zone 1-2b tribe over in Diggin' in the Earth. Cause this is my first year and all I know is that everyone up here starts their stuff in greenhouses. Probably the same in your area?

How do I know what zone I'm in? Although if its broad areas, it won't be that helpful, because we live in a large valley that is quite a bit higher (by 3000 feet) and colder than the surrounding valleys. Just "over the mountain" they raise cherries and a bunch of other warm climate fruits, but we are a much different climate than that. Our snow is here for at least another month, probably 2, and they are already getting green grass.

[Denvergirlie]

Originally Posted by forestrymom

How do I know what zone I'm in?

http://www.garden.org/zipzone/

Here is a general zone map. We personally are at 7900 in elevation and are in zone 4 technically.

yes, there will always be variances due to specific weather patterns, sheltered valleys, etc, but all in all, you can plan by your zone.

[forestrymom]

It looks like I'm in zone 4. I have no idea if that would be correct or not. No one around here, really, has gardens of any kind. I think I know of about 3, and they are all covered with raised beds.

[simple living mama]

Hi. We are at 7,500 and in the Rocky Mountains with so much snow that I can't put anything in the ground until just before summer solstice unless I know it can handle a snow on it.

There is a great site that you can get heaps of good info off of called gardenweb.com. It's a forum much like this one that people write in with questions and answers. There are sub categories for folks that live in zone 4 or arid gardeners or anything you are looking for.

So, what you need to do is figure out which zone you are, and then have fun reading about what and how to grow things in your neck of the woods. My thought is you are going to have to buy starts, or start your own if you have a good sunny place to do that in your home. You could build heat boxes or build a small green house. Many people at high altitudes use whiskey barrels that can roll back and forth from inside to the outside porch.

There are ways you can have some good fresh veggies, you just have to read and experiment a lot to figure how to make it work. I put in 19 tomato plants last year but only about 10% ripened so my daughter and I picked them before the frost and wrapped each one in newspaper and stored them in the cool part of our house. Well we were eating tomatoes past Christmas day! The skins got a little thicker but they still beat out the yucky store bought mealy tasteless tomatoes. Good luck to you!!!

[honey-lilac]

We're right at your altitude too.

[simple living mama]

Sorry≈ a quick off topic.

honey lilac- we should start a high altitude mama tribe thead.