Denver Gardening Guide: Planting Early Cool Season Crops in Colorado
Wondering exactly WHAT to plant and WHEN to plant it in the springtime in the Mile High City? As a backyard vegetable garden expert in Denver, I’ve got your back.
Every year, I hear people say not to plant before Mother’s Day. (ps. those are not your people. 😆)
While you definitely shouldn’t plant warm weather veggies outside before mid-May (think: tomatoes, zucchini, and basil), there are lots of cool season frost-tolerant veggies you can (and should) plant, starting as early as St. Patrick’s Day!
Here are the cool season veggies that can be planted outside well before Mother's Day.
In this blog, you’ll learn:
What to Plant in Denver in:
Late March
Early April
Mid April
Mid May
Seed vs. Seedling Reference Guide:
🫘= seed
🌱= seedling
What to plant: march
Some cool season veggies are super tolerant and can be planted as early as March! Ready to get started in your Denver garden? Plant these first.
Here’s your planting list:
🫘Lettuce: Plant every few weeks for a continuous harvest!
🫘Peas: Soak peas overnight before planting to speed up germination!
🫘Spinach: A resilient choice for early spring, spinach thrives in the cool weather
READ NEXT:
What to plant: early-mid April
From broccoli to kohlrabi, early April is prime time to transplant seedlings or plant seeds for a variety of nutritious vegetables. Don't forget about herbs like parsley and chives, which can also start their journey in your garden now.
Here’s your planting list:
🌱Broccoli
🌱Broccoli rabe
🌱Brussels sprouts
🌱Cabbage
🌱Cauliflower
🌱Chives
🌱Kale
🌱Kohlrabi
🌱Mustard greens
🌱Onions: Use seedlings or onion sets!
🌱Parsley
🫘Radish: Plant another round in two weeks!
🌱Shallots: Use seedlings or sets
🫘Tatsoi
READ NEXT:
What to plant: mid-late April
In April, start introducing arugula, beets, and other versatile vegetables to your garden mid-month, to ensure a bountiful harvest into the summer.
Here’s your planting list:
🫘Arugula: Plant every few weeks for a continuous harvest!
🫘🌱Beets
🫘🌱Bok Choy
🫘Carrots: Plant every few weeks for a continuous harvest!
🫘🌱Cilantro: Plant every few weeks for a continuous harvest!
🌱Chard
🌱Collards
🫘Potatoes: Use certified seed potatoes!
🫘Turnip
READ NEXT:
What to Plant: mid may
As the season progresses, get ready to welcome celery and fennel into your garden, completing the cycle of cool season planting.
🌱Celery
🌱Fennel
Ready to get started planting? Here are some pro tips for cool season gardening:
Protect Your Crops: While cool season crops are hardy, unexpected frosts can still pose a threat. Utilize hoops and row covers to shield your plants from late snow and chilly winds.
Don’t Forget to Water: Effective watering is super important in the springtime, especially before the typical sprinkler system kick-off in May.
Early planting offers a rewarding start to the gardening season. With a bit of planning and protection, your cool season vegetables will flourish, setting the stage for a year of abundant growth and harvests.
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Meet the Gardener
I’m Elisa Mack - a mom and Denverite who went from being a green-ish thumb to a kitchen garden fanatic simply by dedicating myself to the study of all things Colorado gardening.
Landscapers don’t design. And nurseries don’t make house calls.
We take a more full-service approach, from designing your dream garden to keeping it beautiful year-round.
And as your coach, I’ll help eliminate the guesswork through every season, no matter your level of knowledge.
