Colorado Growing lan School Year Calendar vs Colorado Growing Season SCHOOL YEAR SUMMER SCHOOL YEAR JAN FEB MAR AR MAY JUN JUL AUG SE SE OCT OCT NOV DEC Cool Season Crops ARIL - MAY AND SETEMBER - OCTOBER 30 Day Salad Garden: Lettuce, Radishes, Spinach, eas (grown for ea Shoots) The cool weather growing seasons are short and sweet. We grow a 30 Day Salad in the cool spring or fall months when frosts are expected, but day length and average temperatures still allow us to grow cold toler ant vegetables. *Fall 30 Day Salad growth is dependent upon success of summer gardens. - Summer/Fall CROS LATE MAY THROUGH SETEMBER Summer Themed Garden Options: 3 Sisters Garden, Salsa Garden, lant arts Garden, Fall Root Veggie Garden, eas and Carrots Garden, Create your Own Theme The summer growing season is the most diverse and charismatic garden. Because of the potentially large ent themes. Most Themed Gardens produce a harvest in the fall. - OVERWINTERED CROS NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH Overwintered Crops: Spinach, eas, Cilantro, Onions, Garlic Our unique raised garden design paired with the unique climate in the Front Range enables us to plant gar dens in late fall with cold hardy plants that will establish during winter months. No harvests happen during - the winter months, but overwintering will enable earlier and larger spring harvests. SRING LANTING SRING HARVEST SUMMER LANTING SUMMER HARVEST ~ April 1st ~ May 20th ~ May 25th ~ September 20th
Rotating Your Garden lan Each Year Why should I rotate my crops? It is the responsibility of the Garden Team to make sure crops are rotated each year. Using the practice of crop rotation in your Learning Garden will result in less disease, fewer pests, and healthier crops - especially over time. Rotating your crops keeps your garden soil healthy by slowing the depletion of essential plant nutrients and keeping disease at bay. TC helps managing your crop rotations easy by providing theme garden guides that you can rotate through different sections of your Learning Garden each year. We also recommend using the four smallest garden beds to grow perennials and herbs which are rotated less frequently. How can I easily manage crop rotations? In order to rotate your garden crops effectively, it is important to keep track of where you grow each theme garden each year. Using the diagram below for reference, break your Learning Garden into 4 sections. (The diagram below shows 4 sections for rotating theme gardens and one circular perennial section.) Take notes on where you plant each theme garden each year, and reference your notes when planning for the following year. This will allow you to plan your rotation effectively and avoid planting the same crops in the same bed two years in a row. Section 1 Year 1 Year 2 Section 3 Section 1 Section 3 Section 2 Section 4 Section 2 Section 4 The above diagram shows four different colored sections of two beds each for themed gardens. In the second year of growth, these Garden Themes rotate clockwise through the garden. The fifth section is made up of four smaller garden beds for perennials. erennials do not require crop rotation each year. Garden Map ey: Garden Theme #1 Garden Theme # Garden Theme # Garden Theme # erennials do not require crop rotation each year
SRING salad GARDEN lan SRING GROWING SEASON ARIL - MAY Baby Lettuce Spring eas and Overwintered eas Garlic Overwintered Cilantro Strawberries erennial Herbs lettuce and radishes Overwintered Spinach SRING Season Overview LANTING DATE: ARIL 1st AVERAGE LAST FROST: May 1-10 AVERAGE HIGH: 61 (April) 71 (May) DAY LENGTH (ARIL): 12hr 41m AVERAGE LOW: 34 (April) 44 (May) DAY LENGTH (MAY): 14hr 47m AVERAGE RAIN: 1.73 (April) 2.23 (May) ZONE: 5b AVERAGE SNOW: 7 (April) 1 (May)
Salad Garden Guide Click or Scan the QR Codes below to view our garden videos Example Salad Garden Layout Use this template to guide you as you plant or harvest your garden lanting Seeds with a classroom lanting Lettuce Seedlings lanting Lettuce Radish Seeds Lettuce Seeds Lettuce Seedlings ea Shoots Overwintered eas Overwintered Cilantro Overwintered Spinach lanting Radishes and Spinach Watering Your Garden with a Spray Nozzle Assessing Radish Growth lanting eas Assessing Lettuce Growth Salad Garden lanting: lanting Date: April 1 Spring ea Shoot Seeds - 30 Days to Maturity Spacing: 2 inches ea Shoot harvest Window: May 1 - June 1 Spring Lettuce Seeds - 40 Days to Maturity Spacing: Several Seeds per inch Spring Harvest Window: May 10 - June 15 Spring Radish Seeds - 30 Days to Maturity Spacing: 1.5 inches Spring Harvest Window: May 1 - May 20 Spring Lettuce Seedlings - 40 Days to Maturity Spacing: 8 inches Spring Harvest Window: May 10 - May 20 Overwintered Cilantro and Spinach Spring Harvest Window: April 1 - May 20 Overwintered eas (Let these flower and fruit!) Spring Harvest Window: May 15 - June 15
Harvest Guide SRING (ARIL - MAY) Harvest window dates are estimates and may vary due to your local environmental factors (cold, heat, light, water) and the health and care of your plants. Cilantro Window: April 1 May 20 ar est lea es y pinchin or cuttin lea ste s once lea es ha e reached inches in len th e sure not to uproot the plant durin har est pect ultiple har ests ith ee s et een har ests Garlic Scapes Harvest Window: May 15 June 15 ar est arlic scape y cuttin the central ste o the arlic plant ith a ni e or scissors ust a o e the upper lea es ar est the arlic scape as the top o the scape or s a ull circle and e ore the scape strai htens out to e tend ully ertical Lettu e ( a eaf) arvest indow a une Lettu e ( u eads) arvest indow a a ea ods arvest indow a une ea Shoots Harvest Window: May 1 June 1 nip or pinch the top t o inches o ne est ro th o your pea plants ou can pinch the tender ste o easily i it is ready the ste is hard to rea o e up ards on the plant to har est the ore tender ne er ro th erennial Herbs Harvest Window: April 15 End of Season inch o lea es y hand or or lar er har ests cut ste s ith clippers resh her lea es can e har ested as they ro ar est the top o plant or only the lea y tips to encoura e ne ro th
Colorado Harvest Guide SRING (ARIL - MAY) Harvest window dates are estimates and may vary due to your local environmental factors (cold, heat, light, water) and the health and care of your plants. adishes arvest indow a a ull the entire plant out o the round to har est ar est hen top o radish root reaches in dia eter ar est sprin radishes e ore hot su er eather ar est radishes e ore they olt ste s e in to ro ertically to produce lo ers ina h arvest indow ri a nip or pinch outer lea es at their ste s as the plant ro s e sure not to pull up ards and uproot the plant durin har est e a are that these plants ill continue to produce ore lea es so har est lea es as they ro to e the correct si e ar est spinach plants e ore they olt ste s e in to ro ertically to produce lo ers
Summer GARDEN Themes SUMMER GROWING SEASON MAY - SETEMBER Salsa garden plant parts garden Overwintered Cilantro garlic Strawberries erennial Herbs 3 Sisters Garden root veggie garden Summer Season Overview LANTING DATE: MAY 25th MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SETEMBER AVERAGE HIGH: AVERAGE LOW: AVERAGE RAIN: 81 88 89 86 76 53 59 58 52 47 1.69 2.05 2.05 1.06 1.06
SALSA GARDEN Guide Click or Scan the QR Codes below to view our garden videos Example Salsa Garden Layout Use this template to guide you as you plant your Salsa Garden Example 1: B T Example 2: T B T B T B = Tomatoes = Basil = eppers = Trellis = Onions Salsa Garden lanting Info lanting Date: May 20th (Cilantro Seeds - lant: July 20) B T B T T B North = Cilantro Tomato Seedlings: 70 days to maturity Spacing: Several Seeds per inch Harvest Window: July 15 - Fall Frost asil eedlin s ar est until plant o ers Spacing: 1 foot Harvest Window: June 15 - Fall Frost epper Seedlings: 85 days to maturity Spacing: 1 foot Harvests: September 1 - Fall Frost Onion Seedlings: 90 days to maturity Spacing: 3 inches Harvest Window: September 1-30 Cilantro Seeds: 40 days to maturity Spacing: 3 inches Harvest Window: September 1-30
lant parts Garden Guide lant arts Garden lanting Info lanting Date: May 25th lant Broccoli July 1st ale Seedlings: 30 days to maturity Spacing: Several Seeds per inch Harvest Window: June 25th - End of Season Celery Seedlings: 80 days to maturity Spacing: 1 foot Harvest Window: Sept. 5th - Fall Frost Broccoli Seedlings: lant July 1st Spacing: 1 foot Harvest Window: Short window in Sept Harvest timed with early formation o o ers Chard Seeds: 40 days to maturity Spacing: 3 inches Harvest Window: July - End of Season Cilantro and Dill Seeds: 100 days for seeds Spacing: 1 inch Harvest Window: September seed formation Beet Seeds: 60 days to maturity Spacing: 3 inches Harvest Window: August - End of Season Two Example lant art Garden Layouts Use these maps to guide you as you plant your lant arts Garden Example 1: Ce Example 2: N Ce C Dill 1 N Beets 1 Br Chard 1 C Cil. 1 N N Cil. 1 C Beets 1 Ce Ce N Dill 1 Chard 1 C Br Click or Scan the QR Codes below to view our garden videos N Ce = Celery C N North = Cucumbers = Nasturtium = ale Br = Broccoli = Trellis Cil. = Cilantro Cucumber Seeds: 65 days to maturity Spacing: 3 inches Harvest Window: August - Fall Frost Nasturtium Seeds: 70 days to maturity Spacing: 3 inches Harvest Window: August - Fall Frost
Root Veggie Garden GUIDE Click or Scan the QR Codes below to view our garden videos Example Root Veggie Garden Layout Use this template as a guide you as you plant your Root Veggie Garden Carrots (Four Rows) Half Inch Spacing otatoes. lant 1 Every 12 otatoes Carrots Salad Garden lanting Information lanting Date: May 20th Seed otatoes: Days to Maturity: 80+ Spacing: 1 foot Harvest Window: September - End of Season Carrot Seeds: Days to Maturity: 60+ Spacing: 1/2 inch Harvest Window: September - End of Season Tips for Increasing otato roduction otatoes are tubers which grow from buried stems of the otato plant. For maximum yeild, follow these instructions: 1. Create a deep trench along the center of your otato Garden which follows the curve of the bed. lant your potatoes 1 deep in the trench. 2. once your potato has grown above the top of your garden, e pect this a out a onth a ter the rst ro th appears mound the soil to cover as much of the stem as you can. Don t cover every leaf! ter the plant has o ered loosen the arden soil ro the garden edges with a shovel so kids can dig for potatoes by hand! Seed otato lanting Early Growth Mounding Harvest
Three Sisters Garden Guide Click or Scan the QR Codes below to view our garden videos Example Three Sisters Garden Layout Use this template as a guide you as you plant your Three Sisters Garden Example 1 Z 3 ft Example 2 Z Sq Beans. 2 rows. 3 inch Corn. 2 rows. 10 inch Corn. 2 rows. 10in. Beans. 2 rows. 3 ft Z 3 ft Z 3in. Sq North Sq Z = 3 ft space between Squashes = Yellow Squash = Zucchini = umpkin or other Winter Squash *Be sure to plant your garden with the tallest plants to the north. The Corn is the tallest plant in this garden Three Sisters Garden lanting Information lanting Date: May 20th opcorn Seeds: Days to Maturity: 100 Spacing: 8 Inches Harvest Window: September - October Bean Seeds: Days to Maturity: 60 Spacing: 3 Inches Harvest Window: July 20 - Fall Frost Summer Squash Seeds: Days to Maturity: 60 Spacing: 2 Feet Harvest Window: July 20 - Fall Frost umpkin Seeds: Days to Maturity: 85 Spacing: 2 Feet Harvest Window:August 15
Colorado Harvest Guide SUMMER (JUNE - OCTOBER) Harvest window dates are estimates and may vary due to your local environmental factors (cold, heat, light, water) and the health and care of your plants. Basil Harvest Window: June 15th Fall Frost or until Flowers Grow. (Salsa Garden) luck or snip new leaves and stems at the top of the plant directly above two leaves. Two new tops will begin to grow from the leaf nodes directly below your harvest. Continue to pinch or snip newest growth as new leaves grow. As new tops continue to double, so will your harvests. Harvest regularly to a oid lo erin as Beans (Snap Beans) Harvest Window: July 15 Fall Frost (3 Sisters Garden) ick beans when pods are young and tender before beans swell to expand the pod. Harvest largest pods several times per week or as they become ripe Beets Harvest Window: August End of Season (lant arts Garden) Harvest Beets when the diameter of the root is two inches or more. Roots will continue to grow throughout the growing season. To harvest, pull the whole plant from the ground. Roots and leaves are edible. Broccoli Harvest Window: September (lant arts Garden) Harvest Broccoli when heads mature to a dark green and are still tight. Broccoli heads are immature o ers and they ha e a ery short har est indo days you see your roccoli heads look ready to harvest, bring students out to harvest as soon as possible! To harvest, cut the stalk just below the crown. Broccoli plant will continue to produce small heads of broccoli from the base of its leaves. Carrots Harvest Window: September through October (Root Veggie Garden) ar est roots at dia eter y pullin plants out o the round y hand carrots ill not come out easily, dig a shovel or trowel straight down a few inches from the carrot and wiggle shovel back and forth to loosen roots. Carrots can be harvested when slightly small if necessary. Celery Harvest Window: September Fall Frost (lant arts Garden) Harvest individual stalks by cutting with a knife. Harvest stalks when mature in size. Cilantro (Leaves) Harvest Window: 40 days after planting (Salsa Garden) Harvest leaves by plucking or snipping at stem. Cilantro leaves will continue to grow new leaves for several harvests.
Colorado Harvest Guide SUMMER (JUNE - OCTOBER) Coriander (Cilantro Seeds) Harvest Window: September (lant arts Garden) ar est y pluc in seeds ro dried lo er stal s hese should co e o easily Corn (opcorn) Harvest Window: Late September into October (3 Sisters Garden) Harvest ears of corn after leaves and husks have fully dried out by pulling the ears of corn downwards to snap them from their stalks Cucumbers Harvest Window: July 15 Fall Frost (lant arts Garden) Harvest young fruits from the vine by twisting or cutting fruit stem. Rub the skin of the fruit to remove the prickles. Harvest fruits while young before they swell in diameter and have a rounded and tough outer skin. As fruits age, they become more bitter and the seeds and skin become tough. Dill Seeds Harvest Window: August End of Season (lant arts Garden) ar est y pluc in seeds ro dried lo er stal s hese should co e o easily Garlic Harvest Window: July (Garlic Bed) Harvest Garlic when bottom half of leaves turn brown. To harvest, pull the entire plant from the round plant is not pullin ro the soil easily di strai ht do n into the soil se eral inches a ay from the bulb and pull back to lift and loosen the soil. Be sure not to dig into your garlic bulb. ale Harvest Window: July End of Season (lant arts Garden) ar est outer lea es as they attain a suita le si e ale ill produce lea es consistently throughout the growing season until very cold temperatures in late fall. Nasturtiums Flowers Harvest Window: July Fall Frost (lant arts Garden) nip or pluc o ers at pea eauty e sure to dead head cut dead o ers o o plant o o ers that ere not har ested to encoura e ro th o ne lo ers Onions Harvest Window: September (Salsa Garden) After onions form bulbs at the soil s surface, their necks will weaken so that the tops fall over. When half of the tops are dead or have fallen over, onions are ready to pull. To harvest, ull the whole plant out of the ground and brush the soil from the bulb. Do not wash the bulb, but rather peel the outer leaves when you are ready to eat it. eas (Snow eas) Harvest Window: June (Spring ea Shoots bed left to Fruit) luc pea pods o the ine hen peas e in to isi ly ll out pod at pod hole ith peas inside
Colorado Harvest Guide SUMMER (JUNE - OCTOBER) eppers (Jalepeno or Bell) Harvest Window: August Fall Frost (Salsa Garden) Harvest when peppers are full sized and fully colored. eppers will turn red if left on the plant, but can always be eaten green. Harvest peppers by cutting or snapping the stem of the fruit. erennial Herbs Harvest Window: April 15 End of Season Fresh herb leaves can be harvested as they grow. inch or pluck leaves by hand, or cut stems with clippers to har est se eral lea es ar est the top o plant or only the lea y tips to encoura e new growth. otatoes Harvest Window: September End of Season (Root Veggie Garden) Harvest otatoes by digging into the soil. Tools will damage potatoes so use a shovel or pitchfork as needed to loosen the soil. Dig straight down along the edge of your garden and lift the soil inward loosening as much soil as you can. roceed by digging towards the middle of your garden by hand. umpkins (Winter Squash) Harvest Window: September Heavy Fall Frost (3 Sisters Garden) Harvest umpkins when skin color is fully orange and stems turn brown. Cut the stem with a knife or clippers your pu p in has not atured in color e ore a all rost co es co er the ruit ith a cloth over-night. The plant may die, but the fruit will continue to mature. Strawberries Harvest Window: June Fall Frost (Strawberry Bed) Harvest Strawberries as fruits mature in color. Harvest regularly to promote growth of new fruit. Summer Squash (Zucchini) Harvest Window: July September (3 Sisters Garden) ar est ruits hen youn u er quashes or ucchini are est hen shorter than ar est ill pro ote urther production o ruit pect to har est up to se eral ti es per ee Swiss Chard Harvest Window: July End of Season (lant arts Garden) nap or snip outer lea es at the ase o their ste as needed once lea es reach a suita le si e hard ill produce consistently throu hout the ro in season until hea y all rosts Tomatoes (Cherry Tomatoes) Harvest Window: July Fall Frost (Salsa Garden) ar est hen to atoes ature in color to oran e or red ependin on ariety ature ruits should have a slight give when given a gentle squeeze. Ripe tomatoes should snap easily from the vine just above the fruit.
Winter Garden lanting Winter GROWING SEASON NOVEMBER - MARCH Mulched eas & Mulched Garlic Cilantro Strawberries erennial Herbs Mulched Spinach Winter Season Overview LANTING DATE: NOV 1st NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH AVERAGE HIGH: AVERAGE LOW: AVERAGE SNOW: 52 43 44 46 25 17 17 20 9 9 7 6 54 26 11
Winter Garden Guide Click or Scan the QR Codes below to view our garden videos Example Winter Garden Layout = Use this template to guide you as you plant your winter garden Mulched and unplanted Garlic Cilantro eas Spinach Winter Garden lanting Information: lanting Date: Nov 1 Cilantro Seeds Spacing: 2 inches Spring Harvest Window: April 1 - May 20 Spinach Seeds Spacing: 3 inches Spring Harvest Window: April 1 - May 20 Garlic Cloves Spacing: 8 inches Garlic Scape Harvest Window: May 15 - June 15 ea Seeds Spacing: 2 inches Spring ea od Harvest Window: May 15 - June 30