Tips and tricks for selecting the right fruits, vegetables, and herbs to grow in Evergreen, Colorado

1. PLANT SMART EVERGREEN 2017
“Yeah, we can grow that here.”
17 MARCH 2017

2. Me
Margaret Rode
Evergreen CO • Gardens at 7200ft and Buffalo Park Garden • Makes a mean batch of pesto
Expert?
CO Master Gardener
Community Gardener
Real Food Lover
Garden Geek
Frugal Gal
Introvert

3. Why I Do This
TURN-ONs:
Food that tastes great
Food that hasn’t lost most of its
nutrition
Food that isn’t making me sick
Being outdoors and staying
healthy
Sharing/swapping what I grow
with other folks
TURN-OFFs:
Never knowing what’s in/on the
fruits & veggies I eat
Paying a zillion dollars for organic
brussels sprouts
Eating food that tastes like
cardboard
So much plastic, so much
pollution, so much waste

4. Why I Do This
A University of Texas study analyzed
43 fruits and vegetables from a 50-
year period and reported reductions in
vitamins, minerals, and protein from
then to now.
Using USDA data, they found that
broccoli, for example, had 130mg of
calcium in 1950. Today, the identical
quantity has only 48mg of calcium.
What's going on?
The farming industry needs to grow
bigger vegetables faster.
The very things that speed growth —
selective breeding and synthetic
fertilizers — decrease produce's
ability to synthesize nutrients or
absorb them from the soil.
Long story short: I grow things so I can be sure I’m getting all
of what I want, and none of what I don’t want.

5. Why I Do This
Transporting produce degrades nutrition even more:
•Several days of storage where it’s picked.
•Several days being transported to distribution center.
•Days or weeks of storage there.
•1-3 days on display at the grocery store.
•Storage in your fridge before consumption.
10-80% of certain nutrients (like vitamin C) can be lost in the process,
according to multiple studies.

6. Why Would You Do This?

7. Veggie Quiz: Which Should I Grow?
“Aurora”
Season: 65 days
Determinate (compact)
“Yellow Brandywine”
Season: 90-100 days
Indeterminate (Not compact)

8. The Search: Finding the Right Ones
WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE?
Seeds or Plants?
Many seed catalogs/companies now sell transplants,
as well as seeds, so you’re no longer limited to
what you can get at the local nursery!
Organic? Non-GMO?
Heirloom? Open-Pollinated? Hybrid?
Treated? Or Untreated?
 What’s important to YOU? 

9. Which Ones Are the Best Ones for…
…Our Ridiculously Short
Growing Season:
Our USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-4
Possible Last Frost Date: June 13
Possible First Frost Date: Sept 8
Typical Frost-free Season
: ~87 days 
…Our Ridiculously
Unpredictable Conditions
Late and early cold & frosts
Late and early snow
Mid-summer hailstorms
Drying or damaging winds
Hungry wildlife all around us
…And if you have a sloping, half-shady
gardening area under a pine tree with rocky,
alkaline soil…what to do, what to do?

11. The Big Rules
What do you want to grow?
What do you have light, warmth & space for?
Take the time to get your soil right.
Choose the right plants for your conditions.
Start early and finish late.
Do NOT slow plants down. We are always racing
the calendar, and every day counts.

12. Let’s Begin with the End in Mind
What do you love to eat?
What costs a zillion dollars at the grocery store?
What is the most contaminated by chemicals?

13. What Do I Want to Grow? (My
Process)
What do I buy most in the produce section?
What do I love to eat? What never goes to waste in the fridge?
What’s laden with pesticides or has to travel to get to me?
Can I grow it here?
{ And by the way, how hard do I want to work? }
What’s my “short list” – and do I have room for it all?
What are the best varieties for my garden’s unique conditions?

14. Planning for a great season:
• Avocado
• Bananas
• Basil
• Beets (Golden and Red)
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Cabbage (Red)
• Carrots
• Cilantro
• Corn
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Greens (Collards, Asian, etc)
• Kale (Curly and Lacinato)
• Lettuce (Romaine types)
• Onions (Dry)
• Onions (Green)
• Oranges
• Peas (Sugar Snap & Snow)
• Peppers (Hot and Sweet)
• Potatoes (White)
• Potatoes (Sweet)
• Strawberries
• Summer Squash
• Tomatoes
• Winter Squash (Butternut, etc.)
What do I love to eat? What never goes to waste? (initial list)

15. Planning for a great season:
• Avocado
• Bananas
• Basil
• Beets (Golden and Red)
• Blueberries (perennial)
• Broccoli
• Cabbage (Red)
• Carrots
• Celery
• Cilantro
• Corn
• Cucumbers (pickling)
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Greens (Collards, Asian, etc)
• Kale (Curly and Lacinato)
• Lettuce (Romaine and Mixed)
• Onions (Dry)
• Onions (Green)
• Oranges
• Peas (Sugar Snap & Snow)
• Peppers (Hot and Sweet)
• Potatoes (White)
• Potatoes (Sweet)
• Strawberries
• Summer Squash
• Tomatoes
• Winter Squash (Butternut, etc.)
What actually grows here (outdoors, no greenhouse)?
What do I love enough to fuss with? (space, sun, cost, TLC)

16. Planning for a great season:
• Asparagus (perennial)
• Basil
• Beets (Golden)
• Cabbage (Red)
• Carrots
• Cilantro
• Corn
• Cucumbers
• Garlic
• Greens (all kinds)
• Kale (Curly and Lacinato)
• Lettuce (Romaine and Mixed)
• Onions (Green)
• Parsley
• Peas (Sugar Snap & Snow)
• Peppers (Hot and Sweet)
• Potatoes (White/Red/Yellow)
• Raspberries
• Spinach
• Summer Squash
• Tomatoes
• Winter Squash (Pumpkin, etc.)
MY SHORT LIST

17. Planning for a great season:
Individual beds:
Asparagus, Berries, Garlic
Perennial Green Onions
Rhubarb
Containers or interplanted:
Basil, Parsley, Cilantro
Window boxes/Water troughs:
Lettuces
Spinach
Containers:
Cherry Tomatoes, Dwarf Varieties
Rows:
Beets (Golden and Red)
Cabbage (Red)
Carrots
Cucumbers (Pickling)
Greens (Collards, Asian, etc)
Kale (Curly and Lacinato)
Peas (Sugar Snap & Snow)
Peppers (Hot and Sweet)
Potatoes
Summer Squash
Tomatoes
Winter Squash (Butternut, etc.)
DO I HAVE SPACE FOR IT ALL?

18. Things Elk/Deer Rarely Eat
Garlic
Onions
Chives
Leeks
Rhubarb
Horseradish
Jerusalem Artichoke
Smelly Herbs
Plant them anywhere

19. Containers…

20. The Search: Finding the Right Ones
WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE?
Open Pollinated:
Pollination occurs by
insect, bird, wind,
humans, or other
natural mechanisms.
Allows plants to slowly
adapt to local growing
conditions and climate
year-to-year.
Heirloom:
Has a history of being
passed down within a
family or community.
An heirloom variety
must be open-
pollinated, but not all
open-pollinated plants
are heirlooms.
Hybrid:
2 different species or
varieties crossed by
human intervention to
breed a desired trait.
First generation hybrid
(F1) may grow better
and produce higher
yields, but seed cannot
be saved (genetically
unstable)

21. How Should I Decide What to Grow?
Go for what’s easy.
Go for what you KNOW you and/or your family will
love to eat.
Go for what gives you the most sticker shock in the
store or farmer’s market.
Go for your favorite recipes.
Go for weird or fun.

22. Go for What’s Easy
EASIEST
Radish
Carrots
Greens: Kale, Chard,
Collards, Bok Choy, etc.
Arugula
Lettuce
Spinach
Beans & Peas
Beets
Turnips
Green Onions
Garlic
Most Herbs
Strawberries
SECOND EASIEST
Tomatoes (the right varieties)
Potatoes
Parsnip
Summer Squash
Cucumber
Cabbage
Broccoli
BIT OF WORK, BUT WORTH IT
Peppers
Eggplant
Celery
Asparagus
Melons (tiny!)
Pumpkins (small or Northern Bush)
Brussels Sprouts
SUPERGARDENER
BADGE, HOT
SEASON, AND/OR
GOOD LUCK
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potato
Watermelon
Large Winter Squash

23. Go for What Won’t Go to Waste
WHAT WE ATE MOST:
Carrots
Greens (smoothies)
Bok Choy
Romaine Lettuce
Snow/Snap Peas
Golden Beets
Full-sized Tomatoes
Hot Peppers
Summer Squash
Pumpkin
Garlic
Herbs
WHAT WE ATE LESS OF
Loose Leaf Lettuce
Green Beans
Cherry Tomatoes
Swiss Chard
Spinach
WHAT
ABOUT
YOU?:

24. Go for What Costs a Lot in Stores
WHAT HURTS MOST TO BUY ORGANIC AT
THE GROCERY OR FARMER’S MARKET?
Good Tomatoes
Most Fresh Herbs, especially Basil
Bell Peppers
Golden Beets
Leeks
Brussels Sprouts ($7/lb? what?)

25. Go For Your Favorite Recipe
Ingredients
Roasted Org. Tomatoes,
$2.99/can
Basil (for Pesto), $2.00+ for ¼ c
Garlic (a head a week adds up!)
Yellow Finn or Fingerling
Potatoes, $3.00/lb & up
Poblano Chilis
Fresh Berries (don’t get me started on my unrecyclable plastic
clamshell rant!)

26. Go For What Won’t Poison Your
Family
The Environmental Working Group’s 2017 Top Twenty
1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Nectarines
4. Apples
5. Peaches
6. Pears
7. Cherries
8. Grapes
9. Celery
10. Tomatoes
11. Sweet Bell Peppers
12. Potatoes
13. Cucumbers
14. Cherry Tomatoes
15. Lettuce
16. Snap Peas (imported)
17. Blueberries (domestic)
18. Hot Peppers
19. Kale/Collard Greens
20: Blueberries (imported)

27. Go for Weird or Fun
AN EDIBLE
CONVERSATION
PIECE?
ZUCCHINO
RAMPICANTE
(70 days)
Rareseeds.com

28. Go for Weird or Fun
WILD OR STRANGE COLORS?

29. Go for Weird or Fun
OR JUST PLAIN
WEIRD….
Ketchup & Fries Plant
(Grafted)
TerritorialSeed.com

30. Veggie Quiz: Which Should I Grow?
“Aurora”
Season: 65 days
Determinate (compact)
“Yellow Brandywine”
Season: 90-100 days
Indeterminate (Not compact)

31. Veggie Quiz: Which Should I Grow?
“Aurora”
Season: 65 days
Determinate (compact)
“Yellow Brandywine”
Season: 90-100 days
Indeterminate (Not compact)

32. Quiz: Which Should We Grow Here?
“Moskovich”
Season: 55-60 days
Indeterminate
Very cold tolerant
“Black Sea Man”
Season: 75-80 days
Determinate
Sensitive to Frost
“Yellow Brandywine”
Season: 90-100 days
Indeterminate
Heat/drought tolerant

33. Which Pepper Should I Grow?
“King of the North”
“Heirloom. The best red bell pepper
we know for northern gardeners
where the seasons are cool and
short.…. Great sweet flavor. Stock
from Waterville, Maine. 70 days from
transplant.”
“Miniature Chocolate
Bell”
“Heirloom. Short, stocky plants
covered with lovely 2" long miniature
bell peppers with an excellent fresh
flavor. Family heirloom from
Ohio…..Great for salads. 95 days
from transplant.”

34. Which Corn Should I Grow?
“Candy Mountain”
“Open-Pollinated. Matures: 70 Days.
Montana. A super-sweet offspring
perfect for mountain gardeners. This
is the only non-hybrid supersweet we
know of…Tender golden kernels on
impressive 8-10'' ears.”
“Golden Jubilee”
“Hybrid. Matures: 90-105 days. The
grandpa of hybrid corn. Golden
Jubilee is …excellent for late summer
enjoyment. Stalks reach 6 feet tall,
and the 8 1/2-9” inch ears have deep,
tender yellow kernels.”

35. Which Carrots Should I Grow?
“Kinko”
“Open pollinated, 55 days. Early,
absolutely delicious, crisp and
sweet—no matter how long they hold
in the ground. 6” tapered roots grow
in any soil. Divine.”
“Interceptor F1”
“F1 Hybrid. 120-125 days. Long and
slender Imperator-type carrot, will
grow to 12" or more in proper growing
conditions. Roots stay slender … and
will not crack. Good resistance to
storage diseases. ”

36. Which Cucumbers Should I Grow?
“Northern Pickling”
“Open pollinated. 48 Days. Crunchy
goodness on vigorous vines that load
up even at elevation. For pickling,
salads or snacks, this one will
deliver.”
“Mini-Munch”
“F1 Hybrid. 75-80 days. Crisp and
delicious. Fruits are best harvested
when 3 inches long, just right for a
tasty single serving. Excellent
candidate for containers. ”

37. Which Fruit Trees Should I Grow?
Redhaven Peach
Hardy to -20°F. Max elevation: 6000
Heavy-bearing, cold hardy, juicy,
sweet and very tasty, just right for
fresh eating, canning or freezing. This
freestone peach ripens early in the
season. Self-pollinating.
Honey Crisp Apple
Hardy to -30°F. Max elevation: 8500
Fruit stores very well, 5 months or
more. Great sub-acid flavor and
crispness. Winter hardy, vigorous
tree, introduced by the University of
Minnesota in 1990. Needs a
pollenizer.

38. Recap:
Ask Yourself When Considering Things:
What’s good to grow, healthwise and budgetwise?
What has a chance of growing here?
How much energy/time do I have this year?
What do I have space for? Where can I put it?
What varieties are good for growing in Evergreen?

39. Evergreen Community Gardens at
Buchanan and Buffalo Park
Come visit! Yes, INSIDE the fence!
All plots are filled for 2017, but both are
maintaining a waiting list.
Contact us:
Email: garden@evergreeneasy.org
Facebook: Evergreen Community Garden and
Buffalo Park Community Garden

40. Some Terrific Seed Sources:
http://www.pennandcordsgarden.com/miss-penns-mountain-
seeds.html
http://seedstrust.com
http://groworganic.com
http://highmowingseeds.com
http://botanicalinterests.com
http://territorialseed.com
http://sustainableseedco.com
http://rareseeds.com
http://potatogarden.com (Colorado organic seed potatoes)
http://thegarlicstore.com (Organic seed garlic)

41. Some Terrific Seedling Sources:
Front Range Organic Gardeners Seedling Sale
Saturday May 20, 2017 • 9am to 1pm • Denver Presbytery Center
Denver Botanic Gardens Seedling Sale
Friday-Saturday May 12-13, 2017 (free Gardens admission too!)
Penn Parmenter, mountain garden goddess
Saturday-Sunday May 6-7 classes at DBG, will bring seedlings
Farmers’ markets
Local (higher-altitude) nurseries
Natural Grocers (tomatoes/tomatillos/peppers)
Your neighbors

43. You can do this.
Thanks.