WATER: Most vegetables need a consistent, generous supply of water. Use drip irrigation, or use overhead sprinkler early in the day.
SOIL: Organic matter (humus) feeds vital soil organisms that feed plants, improves soil texture, moisture-retention, & aeration. We recommend incorporating compost to a depth of ~8”. Note: Almost all of our soil amendments are produced locally.
FERTILIZER:
Colorado’s clay soils generally contain many important minerals, but most vegetables require supplementary nutrients to produce well. Before planting, work in granular organic fertilizers to a depth of at least 4”. Avoid high nitrogen in areas for growing root crops.
For flower/fruit crops (broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, eggplant, pepper) we suggest side-dressing with Age-Old Bloom or Fruit when plants begin to make buds, & again later. Applying Compost Tea at intervals through the season helps plants maintain optimal health and nutrient uptake. We recommend:
Alpha One (general)
Dave Thompson’s Healthy Grow Plant Food for Tomatoes
Age-Old Grow (general, greens)
Age-Old Fish & Seaweed (gen.)
Cottonseed Meal (general, greens)
Planters II (Rock Dust)(trace minerals)
Kelp Meal (trace minerals)
Alfalfa Meal (general, greens)
HELPFUL PRODUCTS:
Legume Inoculant – Provides important beneficial microbes to enable peas & beans to fix nitrogen from the air
Solar Caps – Best ‘wall-of-water’ protection from frost, enables early planting of tomatoes, peppers, etc., won’t topple, keeps soil warm
Row-Cover Fabric – keeps seedbeds moist, protects plants from frost, wind, insect and animal pests
Tomato Cages – heavy duty, tall and colorful; keep tomatoes off ground, healthier, easy to harvest
Rain Gauge – know how much water you need to apply, and see when you (or Mother Nature) have applied enough
Quick-coupler – Attach and remove hoses and sprinklers quickly, easily
Radius Tools – Strong, high-quality digging tools, designed for many years of comfortable use