Small specialty crop producers on the Western slope face unique challenges related to short growing seasons, arid conditions, water scarcity, clay soils, cool nights, early frosts, and widely variable pest and weed pressure. However, they also have access to strong direct and wholesale markets, making it all worthwhile.
The High Elevation Growing Guides project will address the production risks of growing specialty crops in a high-elevation, arid, short-season environment. For new and beginning farmers, additional knowledge of growing seasons, soils, season extension, irrigation, weed control, pest control, indigenous foods, seed sources, and transplant guidelines will help to minimize failures and maximize success.
For every 1,000 feet in elevation gain, the temperature drops by an average of 3.5 degrees F. This means that spring frosts are later and fall frosts are earlier. The growing season can also vary with topography, soil types, and sun exposure. To be successful, the new farmer must pay careful attention to all these factors.
Land near cities, tourist spots, and places where many retirees live is getting more expensive, especially if there's good water. This means new farmers need to learn essential skills quickly to do well.
These printable downloads provide vital information about growing specific crops at elevation for beginning farmers.
We focus on tomatoes with a few notes concerning eggplants and peppers.
This guide reflects growers' diverse approaches to growing winter squash.
Successful Three Sisters plot (corn, squash, beans) requires careful planning.
This guide covers how to grow spinach successfully in the regular season without extending it.
This guide has practices, tools, and season extension for high-elevation salad mix cultivation.
This guide covers growing tips, timing, and best varieties for top-quality onions in high elevations.
In Southwestern Colorado, small-scale farmers mainly grow cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and collards as their long-season Brassica crops.
This guide goes over the basics of propagating seedlings for high-elevation production.
Sugar snap peas are a popular, season-long crop, also fit for high-elevation shoulder seasons.
Peppers, a valuable crop for high-elevation growers, need careful tending due to their preference for warmth.
Cover cropping is a soil health practice that has become more common over the past decade.
This guide focuses on winter carrot production, although many practices also apply to year-round carrot production.
Obtenga informaci贸n vital sobre el cultivo espec铆fico en altura para agricultores principiantes con estas descargas imprimibles. Hemos creado una gu铆a espec铆fica para cada cultivo.
Para esta gu铆a, concentramos en los tomates con un par de consejos sobre las berenjenas y pimientos.
En esta regi贸n, los cultivadores dependen de varias es-trategias en la cultivaci贸n de calabazas de invierno, y estas se abordan en esta gu铆a.
En las regiones elevadas, una planificaci贸n cuidadosa es necesaria para un sembrad铆o exitoso de las tres hermanas (ma铆z, calabaza y frijoles).
Esta gu铆a se concentra en la producci贸n exitosa de espinaca, durante la temporada de cultivaci贸n y sin t茅cnicas de extensi贸n de la temporada, en Banga鈥檚 Farm en Mancos, Colorado.
Esta gu铆a aborda las pr谩cticas de producci贸n, las herramientas y equipos claves y los consejos para extender la temporada para el cultivador de verduras mixtas de ensalada en las regiones elevadas.
En esta gu铆a presentaremos los enfoques y pr谩cticas de producci贸n necesarios para cultivar las cebollas tanto para el mercado fresco como para el almacenamiento.
En el sudoeste de Colorado, el repollo, br贸coli y coliflor son los principales cultivos de brassica de temporada prolongada que los granjeros de peque帽a escala cultivan, aparte de la col rizada y las berzas.
Esta gu铆a repasa los fundamentos de la propagaci贸n de pl谩ntulas para la producci贸n en regiones elevadas.
Los guisantes dulces son una cosecha pr谩ctica y popular que puede durar toda la temporada de cultivaci贸n y extenderse hasta las temporadas de transici贸n en las regiones elevadas.
Los pimientos son un cultivo de especialidad con la posibilidad de un gran valor para los cultivadores de zonas elevadas, pero, dado que son plantas que quieren el calor, requieren de un cuidado y una destreza particular para su cultivaci贸n exitosa.
El uso de cultivos de cobertura es una pr谩ctica para la salud del suelo que se ha vuelto m谩s com煤n durante la 煤ltima d茅cada.
Esta gu铆a se enfoca en la producci贸n de zanahorias en invierno, aunque muchas de estas pr谩cticas tambi茅n aplican a la producci贸n de todo el a帽o.
Contact us to share high-elevation resources you think should be included on this page.