In our area, the average last frost date is typically between May 10th and May 15th. But there are some cool-season vegetables that like the chill in the air, like lettuce, carrots, radishes, broccoli, and spinach. These will yield a harvest early in the season and then the temperature should be right to get your warm-season vegetables in the ground, including tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and squash.
Before you start planting, now is the time to improve your soil. In Colorado, our soils have low organic matter at less than one percent. Ideally, for the best vegetable yield, you want to increase the percentage of organic matter up to five percent. At Fossil Creek Nursery, we have many different types of soil amendments you can incorporate into the ground now.
Another method that works extremely well in our climate is to construct a raised planting bed. With a raised bed, you can create the most ideal soil that is catered to the vegetables you would like to grow. There is no shortage of planting mixes, amendments, potting soil, and organic fertilizers. So don’t hesitate to pick the brain of one of our seasoned professionals at the nursery. We are passionate about supporting our local gardeners and will help you plan the right combination.
Using containers is another effective way to get started on those vegetables. Similar to using raised planting beds, the soil remains warmer and you can control the soil for ideal results. You can even move the containers from inside to outside to avoid that late frost. Happy planting!