Greetings Gardeners!
It's time to start garden planning and planting. Our plots are nearly sold out and many gardeners at Rose Roots have asked about resources for planning garden plots and planting vegetables. Denver Urban Gardens offers guidance on their website in their "Resources" section and Colorado State University offers a wealth of information on gardening on their Master Gardener page. Rose Roots also has certified and master gardeners who can offer assistance during the gardening season. Check the Rose Roots Calendar Here for details.
Important Things to Know
The City will turn the water on after the last anticipated frost in mid April
You can start planting seeds now if you've been assigned a plot and paid your plot registration fee through the DUG registration form.
If you need access to the tools in the barn and can't remember the code, contact us Here.
Our Kick Off Work Party followed by an Easter egg hunt and potluck brunch will be held on April 16 at 9 am. Please RSVP and sign up to bring an item Here.
Our first Workshop with Gina Schley of SHE GROWS will be on Sat Aug 23 at 9 am. Don't miss it! Gina is a co-founder of our gardener and shares a wealth of information.
Community Gardening Tip: Please avoid planting tall sunflowers or corn adjacent to an adjoining plot. As a community, we aim to ensure all our neighbors have an opportunity to reach for the sunshine!
Plant Cucumbers! North Carolina State University is conducting a 3 year study on bees and cucumbers in our garden. We look forward to seeing the results.
Each plot team must fulfill 12 service hours helping maintain community spaces and resources or pay $7/hour unfulfilled by Oct 31. Some immediate key jobs that need filling for this season include: Newsletter Writer, Website Updater, Social Outreach, Sign Up Genius/Evite organizer, Kiosk Manager, Ten Year anniversary celebration team planners. This is a great way to get your hours in, and we will train you! Contact us Here if interested.
We are celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary this season as gardeners growing community. We are looking forward to seeing you all out at the garden for some wonderful activities this season!
Seasonal Gardening Tips and Resources
offered by Patty Sacks, Rose Roots VP
Know your cool season and warm season crops
Many cool season crops can be planted in April. Seedlings for cool season and warm season transplants can be started indoors 4 and 6 weeks prior to the average last frost date and set out during late May. Cool-season crops include peas, lettuce, spinach, radish, cilantro, parsley, chard, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and turnips, while warm-season seeds & transplants include squash, corn, beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, basil, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers.The average last frost date in May is May 13 for Arvada. Don't be fooled by those warm days in April! Try using row covers, frost fabric or "hot caps" to protect when planted in mid-May. Seed or plant warm season crops when nighttime temperatures fall between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
For more information on cool and warm season crops, follow this useful link from the DUG website:
Spring soil preparation
Garden plot soil preparation: Rose Roots will be supplying organic plant based compost in April. This will be stored in our materials section on the garden's west side. To prepare soil for planting, apply a 1" thick layer of compost to your plot and work into your soil to a depth of 6-8 inches prior to planting. Adding more than 1" is not necessarily better.
Garden planning
Gardeners also ask about optimal plot layout. Here is a resource from Colorado State University on sample garden layouts for small gardens.
Beneficial nematodes
One of our gardeners recently asked me how our nematode application went last fall and if we are planning to apply nematodes again for the 2022 season. Nematodes are sensitive to cold and typically are applied when the soil is 60-80 degrees. They live a few months or until the weather gets cold. They live in the soil and work hard to control garden pests, such as aphids. Rose Roots encourages gardeners to purchase nematodes from a reputable garden supplier and apply them during June. Arbico Organics offers a great source.
Happy Gardening, Rose Roots Leadership Team
(720) 702-8806
