Gardeners are asking where to find seeds and resources in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Here are a few ideas.
PeopleandPollinators.org suggests Organic and/or untreated seeds are available from online distributors like Botanical Interests, BBB Seed, High Country Mowing (mostly for vegetables), High Country Gardens (for flowers) or Seed Savers. Or, check out your local plant purveyors such as Harlequin’s Gardens in Boulder, who are allowing 4 customers in at a time and are adhering to strict social distancing measures.
In and near Arvada, the following nurseries are still currently open, though may have limited hours so you should call first before visiting:
1. Echter’s Nursery and Garden Center: (303) 424-7979 (Arvada)
2. Wright’s Nursery: (303) 424-3914 (Open Mon-Sat currently) (Arvada)
3. Giambrocco and Sons Garden Center: (303) 421-7228 (Arvada)
4. O’Tooles Garden Center: (303) 423-8361 (Westminster)
5. Abner's Garden Center: (303) 424-0180 (Wheat Ridge)
6. Young's Market and Garden Center: (303) 422-8408 (Wheat Ridge)
7. Malara Gardens says on their website they will be opening in Mid-April. (303) 424-1452 (Arvada).
PeopleandPollinators.org recommends Now is the perfect time to start warm weather seeds indoors (or outdoors if you’re planting cool weather crops like arugula, spinach, and kale). Aside from offering some ecotherapy physically and mentally as well as our daily dose of Vitamin D, growing extra food now could really benefit our community which is already facing food shortages only increasing in the coming weeks and months. Consider sharing your seeds, starting some extra plants, or planting an extra row or more to share with others in need. And remember to mix in some native pollinator plants to support our local ecosystem. Fortunately, as far as we know, bees can't get the Covid-19 virus, a silver lining, since they already have enough on their plate!
General vegetable growing season in Colorado:
-March, April: You can start planting vegetables now that thrive in cool weather like broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, cabbage, kale, lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, radishes, rutabaga, cauliflower, beets, peas, onions and potatoes.
Note: Tomatoes, Eggplants and peppers take longer to mature so you can plant those as seedlings and/or grow your own indoors and transplant them after the last frost in May).
-Late April/May: Plant summer vegetables like beans, cowpeas, corn, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, gourds, and sunflowers, or start indoors now and transplant seedlings after the danger of last frost has passed.
-June-Oct: Replant things that go to seed, Harvest until Mid to late October. Donate extra food to Arvada Food Bank (Rose Roots Garden donated over 3,000 pounds last year!)
Whatever you decide to plant, share with those in need and we will all get through this together! And remember, as you see the crocuses, daffodils and green sprouts popping up, to start each day with a grateful heart. The garden always helps us find the small beautiful simple gifts to appreciate in life.
Happy Spring gardening,
Erin Newton, Rose Roots Gardener