We’re blessed to have warm days a cool nights for the majority of the year here in Colorado. What this amounts to is a temperate environment to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables throughout the year. Growing your own food can be an extremely rewarding experience. There’s something about tending for plants from seed to bloom and then enjoying the “fruits of your labor” when you’re sitting down at dinner eating a salad made with items you grew in the backyard. But even though Colorado has a temperate climate, it does get really HOT and really COLD.
Here’s a list of plants you need in your Colorado urban garden that are well suited for the changing seasons.
1. Salvia
This variety of perennial is hardy enough to tolerate extremely cold temperatures and drought. These flowers will bloom in the spring and again in the late summer if you take the time to deadhead them.
2. Lot’s O’ Vegetables
There are a good number of vegetables that do well in Colorado however, some of them do better in the cold and some in the heat. Some cool season crops include; kale, beets, carrots, potatoes, onions, broccoli, and peas. Warm season crops include; beans, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, corn, melons, and zucchini.
3. Cold Hearty Fruit Trees
Low maintenance and produces year-round? Hell yes. Types of fruit trees that do well in Colorado include; Apples, Sour Cherries, Peaches, Pears, & Apricots.
4. Echinacea
This is a wonderful plant to add to your Colorado urban garden if you’re wanting beautiful flowers that will attract lots of awesome butterflies. They’re super drought hardy, making them perfect for a low-water use garden.
5. Bowles Periwinkle
This pretty little plant makes great ground cover and its’ water needs are minimal once the plant is established making a great low-maintenance way to fill in the garden.
6. Mushrooms
We love mushrooms! We’re not talking about the psychedelic ones here, although let’s be honest, we love those too. We’re talking about the delicious tasting varieties you add to pizzas, pastas, salads, risottos, and pretty much any other recipe you want. Shitake and oyster mushrooms are the easiest to grow but you can also try porcini, chanterelle, and hawk’s wing.
7. Geranium
The ‘Rozanne’ variety is suited well for Colorado. It tolerates the local wildlife, blooms all summer long, and is low maintenance. Not to mention it smells GOOOOOOD.
8. Garden Plants For Those With Black Thumbs
Not all of us are blessed with a “green” thumb. If you’re still interested in building a garden but have a hard time keeping things alive, try these plants: Dwarf Irises, Mt. Royal Plums, Crabapples, Lilac, and cherry or other small tomatoes.
9. Perennial Herbs
You can’t have an urban garden without some everyday herbs. Some yummy options that grow well in Colorado include; rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage, oregano, chives, and chamomile.
Don’t have the accommodations for your own garden at home? Did you know there’s 181 urban community gardens around the metro Denver area? Here’s how to get in the know. Check out dug.org to find out how you can get involved in a community garden near you.
If you’re looking to find other urban gardeners in your area, you should check out https://urbanfarmcolorado.com/ and on Instagram. Not only can you find a community of plant lovers here, but a multitude of tips and tricks on starting and taking care of your very own urban garden in Colorado. It’s a great resource and the best part? It’s FREEEEEEE.
Do you have other great resources for urban gardens in Colorado? Shoot us a note or comment below, we would love to hear from you!
