Colorado Mountain Gardener: Homegrown Arugula in January!
By Lindsay Graves, Eagle County CSU Extension Grasp GardenerHomegrown arugula in January? At 6,700′? Yep! With some low tech season extension methods, the hardiest salad greens will overwinter in a lot of Colorado, so you possibly can get pleasure from tasty treats in winter and early spring harvests earlier than many gardeners may even plant!When you turn out to be accustomed to the style and heft of homegrown leaves, you will not wish to return to retailer purchased.Let’s take into account the challenges:SpaceColdLightBetween Nov 15 and Feb 1, days are too brief for a lot development, so the crops are in mainly a ready state. When rising fall greens, we now have two choices: develop them to close full dimension and maintain for fall + early winter harvest, or develop them to a small dimension and overwinter and resume development within the spring for late winter + early spring harvest. WaterWhile formidable, the challenges may be overcome. Let’s take a look at the options.PlanningIncorporate a patch of chilly season greens in your planting plan. They’ll comply with the primary planting of greens, peas, or garlic. You will wish to plant in mid July for fall harvest and early Sept for spring harvest (in my backyard at 6,700′).Begins vs SeedsUsing begins is a good concept! Planting a 4-6 week outdated plant vs a seed saves you time and area. It may be laborious to supply seedlings in summer time, so begin your personal. Seeds will work too although in case you do not wish to develop begins.Season ExtensionRow covers present a extra even temperature and permit crops to start out rising earlier within the morning and later into the night, to allow them to dimension up rapidly. Add a row cowl after day time highs drop beneath 85. Add plastic over the row cowl when heavy snow threatens (so it would not rip the row cowl). Plastic should be vented each day till the highs are beneath 60.Instructed VarietiesThe Fall Greens Gardener’s 12 months-round ChecklistJan-FebMar-JuneJuly-SeptHarvest one thing to create space for greensApply a wealthy compost (like worm castings)Sow greens (in floor or in beginning kits). Make final sowings by Sept 15.Cowl (row cowl after day highs beneath 85, plastic after day highs are beneath 60)Oct-MarMy cabbage in OctoberMy lettuce in October
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By Lindsay Graves, Eagle County CSU Extension Grasp GardenerHomegrown arugula in January? At 6,700′? Yep! With some low tech season extension methods, the hardiest salad greens will overwinter in a lot of Colorado, so you possibly can get pleasure from tasty treats in winter and early spring harvests earlier than…