The land has a nice slope.A dugin greenhouse would give you a full 8 mth grow season. It wont be cheap but in winter it's nice to have a sunny 60 degree room to plant in.
I am building a walipini here on the eastern plains of Colorado. Have grown in the hole I have dug for it but it wasn’t covered in the material. Hope to get it finished up for next season. I have an above greenhouse area I’m just planting now.
I have a balcony garden at my condo at 9340 ft high in Colorado, my balcony faces west and is enclosed with walls on the sides and an upper story deck above, so I have determined I just grow a spring garden all summer. Strawberries, leafy greens, peas, radishes, and a few flowers makes up what I grow. I am experimenting with a tomato and jalapeño growing inside against the window since nights are too cold here, I am hoping the 4ish hours of direct sun they will get will be enough because they do get plenty of indirect light. I keep my herbs inside year round under grow lights.
I have nearly exactly what you're describing as far as the balcony situation goes and sadly I have not had good luck with tomatoes at all. Most of my plants are either not getting enough sun or getting absolutely fried when the afternoon sun finally hits them. I'm thinking of trying lavender and maybe some vines this year. Good luck! I hope your plants fair better than mine did
Stumbled on this a year late doing some research. I had some luck at high altitudes in the Southern Hemisphere with low tunnels and misting water irrigation for the more temperate annual crops. It seems to simulate the climate/humidity that they like. It’s a cheaper alternative that allows you to get in a traditional “harvest” for canning and such. The greenhouse is ultimately the best solution.
Hi there we just moved to the mountains. Does arugula bolt, if it’s woody it may have bolted. You could test your soil to see what needs adding or just put bag soil on top and till if you don’t want to test it. I haven’t tested ours. But it looks like the last owner of this garden we now have did that. Soil Bags and till. Putting up a sun shade is great but drip irrigation or sprinklers. I’m so glad you did a video on this. Have a great day.
Fantastic. I finally realized I need to stop coveting gardens of other climates and use and reuse whats native in my area. & Unless I want an uphill battle, let the plants that Want to be in my area grow there.
We are wanting to relocate back to high altitude property. I had a few things I could not get to grow. Planning a greenhouse this next round as well as exterior. Thanks you for sharing.
Great video! I'm moving up into Park County at the end of the month in the mountains around Como. Glad I found your channel, I'm gonna need lots of tips!
We live in Park County. I have been gardening up here since 2010. It's definitely a labor of love. Lol. I have had more success than most people, but it's taken hours and hours of my time and lots of money, unfortunately. Good luck! It can be done....
@@corinnemann3089 we live in park county as well. Building a greenhouse to extend our season. But would love some advice on high altitude growing. From Kansas, if you stand still you will root and start growing.
I am lower than you, in Tijeras New Mexico(pinion and juniper forest, 6900 feet, ag zone 7a). This is my second summer gardening and we really have to start seeds indoors in March with a grow lamp supplementing a sunny window. I have caged raised beds, with a drip system. Our early summer was really dry, but all of July and August we've made up for it with monsoons. I am an experienced low desert gardener, so this has been a learning experience. We get red, yukon and red skinned potatoes without any work. My fruit bearing solanums MUST be a 5" plant, put it in the beginning of May. Direct seeding doesn't work for anything except lettuce and spinach, like it did in the desert. I add a layer of 4" compost and a slow release organic fertilizer at the beginning of each spring, mulch with straw(really a bunch of decomposing haybales the previous owner used for archery practice) and again when the rains came. Timing is my biggest unknown. Best of luck to you.
Maybe try hugelkulture? Maybe try shade cloth? Short to mid-season seed varieties for a shorter growing season perhaps? Try diverting grey water to your gardens. Your arugula might need wind protection.
I live in Breckenridge, CO and have had luck with container gardening- mostly in my living room, but we’re officially out of room for plants in our two south-facing windows. Moving plants in and out every day works for small time gardeners, but not obsessive gardeners, like myself. I’m getting a greenhouse this Summer. Hopefully that will significantly extend my growing season. In the meantime, STOP SNOWING, COLORADO!!! ❄️😭❄️
Ah yes, right now we are experimenting with hydroponics and it's turning out pretty well. But yes, a short season once the snow finally stops, for outdoor growing that is.
Great video. One year I was able to get one decent pumpkin in my garden in W. Park. We were known for lettuce and potatoes up here a 100 years ago. I usually stick to lettuce, radishes, carrots and herbs. Occasionally, peppers and tomatoes.
It is probably too late but I live in the colorado rockies at about 8,700 ft and I have a fabulous garden! You have to amend the heck out of the soil, and mulch like you mean it! Like 4 inches thick.
@@ColoradoMountainLiving peas grow great! I put them in even while there is snow on the ground. Squash are good, but protect them from the hail. I have a huge greenhouse for tomatoes, and veggies that take a long time. I grow all kinds of berries. Raspberries, currants, goji, honey berry, stawberries, elderberry, and lingonberry. Apples also do well. I hope to get some pear trees in the ground this year. Other perennials that do well here are chives, mint, and rhubarb. Get some rain barrels and consider raising rabbits or goats. The manure from them is great for the garden and unlike chickens, you don't have to let it cool. We raise meat rabbits and mini goats for milk. I will try and upload a garden tour video later this year, and will share if you are interested.
Oooh nice to hear of the berries. I have honey berry going with lots of blooms. I had a service berry bush but the roots were eaten by voles. II had a long standing rhubarb, but lost it during the drought summer a couple years back because I couldn't keep up with the watering. Same wiht my strawberry plants. I do have some garlic chives coming back this year. We have a large cistern on the property so that's great. . Haven't tried apples yet. Id love to get trees just for the blooms.
I've used the same pots just like you are using in an area in the corner that gets a lot of sun... take this with a grain of salt this is 600 ft above sea level lol. I hope maybe that by sharing my experience growing purslane and dandylion in pots this could help you grow better in pots because I don't think pots are entirely bad but they do have their downsides... In my experience, the soil mixture is really important. I did an experiment where I mixed different quantities of sand, compost and mulch using the same quantity of worm castings throughout all pots and I used a water filter to get rid of as much chlorine and flouride as possible from the water so that the fungi and bacteria in the soil microbiome would be balanced and proliferate healthily. This turned out to be excellent for fungal production which helped most of my plants grow really big and strong. The ones with more compost and mulch in the original soil mixture did really excellent whereas the ones with more sand did better in the shade and grew hardier stronger tasting plants but smaller and tended to dry out really quickly when close to the wall. I supposed it had something to do with the fungi being able to retain more moisture which helped with easier availability of nutrients as the fungi and bacterial eat each other and continue to feast on all organic material in the pots the better and a layer of compost may also help maintain moisture. I also noticed the water qaulity in my area is 400 ppm really terrible and the proximity to the wall where there is a lot of radiating heat did tend to dry out my soil rather quickly on hot days making some of my seedlings die. Knowing what I know now I won't put my plants too close to a hot wall next time especially during the heat of summer. But that could be a good thing if you want to protect your potted plants from frost but I imagine since you're so high up you'd have to keep an eye on your pots if you have any clear days the water from the soil may evaporate more quickly where you are and your plants will wilt if you're not careful. Also black pots attract more heat, that is something to consider. I do like my canvas pots but I would probably get white or not so dark ones for the summer crops
I'll probably make several comments here throughout your videos I watch it but one thing you got to think about when planting in pots is if those pots are in the direct sunlight you're actually creating a greenhouse a super hot soil you should go out there midday in July and stick a meat thermometer or something like that down that soil so it kind of temperature you're getting you're actually cooking your root system you got to keep your pots out of the Sun for one thing
The pots are a fine idea but they end up getting way too cold since they're exposed to the temperature on all sides. When I start stuff in big pots I keep them inside till I',m ready to put them in the ground. I have an indoor solarium so they still get a lot of sun. Of course this is basically the same thing as starting seedlings inside.
you have to constantly trim arugala. as soon as you can eat it- do. Don't worry about stunting it- it likes to be cut back right away and it actually encourages it.
I’ve put mulch over the soil of my containers and my plants are doing much better. I put some cheap chiffon over them as a hail barrier, and I think it’s helping them avoid being scorched by the sun. I think I’m a bit lower than you, but maybe try that?
That's a great suggestion to help with retaining moisture. I think you're right on about having any layer being a protectant to the sun and hail. Last year I used row covers and they had blown away on me due to high winds.
Colorado Mountain Living my hubby made a cheap wood frame and I stapled the fabric right to the wood. So far this year it’s worked. Good luck on whatever you try!
I have immersed myself watching on You Tube permaculture farming which is quite encouraging. With a double-layered giant greenhouse employing permaculture concepts would probably give rewarding results for the hard work you’re putting into your homestead. I see that you know of that already. (Look at me talking of planting with no farming experience, hehehe).
Great video ..I love all the different aspects..beekeeping, cabin building and gardening. Gardening is hit and miss... you find out what works for your area and adapt. One question..maybe use some fertilizer or organic compost? You can use a sprayer or your water pail to mix some up and put on your plants..looks like your soil could use some amendments
Thanks Ron. We do have access to some mulch(for free) and have a resource for horse manure. I'm sure fertilizer for the garden would be a huge help. I was thinking of going to make a compost bin to get something started at home.
Your soil needs help. Mulch will retain water but rocks don't retain anything for plants except on hills by retaining soil. Adding compost and mulch might improve things but you need to decide whether you're growing flowers and ground cover or food. Then make the move to areas better suited of your desire and efforts.
We have access to truckloads of free mulch in our community, so no excuse not to use it. And you are correct; need to designate proper areas to grow the appropriate plant. I'd like a couple of raised garden beds on the other side of the retaining wall for now (unless we decide to go forward with the greenhouse, but that would be next year at the earliest).
Former Coloradan. Born/Raised in Leadville. As I remember Blueberries, Black berries, & raspberries all di really well. Wonder if you could grow Salmon Berry?
Have you amended your soil at all? Colorado is known for having very clayey soil. We amend with compost, manure and top soil combo every year and our vegetables were all prolific last year!
@@ColoradoMountainLiving I recently read the square foot gardening book by Mel Bartholomew, the book mentions Mel's mix soil, which is a combination of vermiculite, compost and peat moss. 1/3 or each. This should give our Colorado soil the drainage and nutrients it needs.
Colorado Mountain Living yes it seems to be working now, but RUclips took more than a day, was just giving you a heads up about the situation, I think RUclips should give you a week on everyone’s recommended list for that error, continued success. Sincerely Fabrizio
I am interested in finding out if this is a big culture in your state for research interests. Do a lot of people like to grow natural foods and sell at farmers markets? Thanks if anyone knows.
This is one of the #1 reasons we love NC --- yea yea there are some drawbacks but check out my garden here --- its incredible- In CO, not so much :( you guys keep heads up and moving forward -- and remember -- there was snow a month ago :O
NC is a haven for growing just about anything! I miss the EASY tomatoes; sweet potatoes and okra and blackberries!! So sad to leave those behind when we moved.
Your garden looks very dusty. I would divide it into two, a higher native drought garden and a lower or downslope to the west irrigated garden. Is there an outlet on your well head. I would connect a pipe via a non return valve to the well head and run it down through the copse to connect to your water tank. Disconnect and drain the pipe and tank in the autumn so there is nothing to freeze. I would also add vegetable matter to the irrigated part so that it holds more water. If you have access the produce from a stable that is good if you leave it to rest for a year or two. As I posted before you could also get some hay from a wild flower meadow (with owners consent) and spread it on the slope to increase the amount of flowers. The plants on your balcony are a bit wind swept. If you put them closer together they will shelter each other to some extent.
My goal going forward will be more intentional landscaping where one garden will be the xeroscape native plants; one will be for growing food and maybe another shade flower garden. Interestingly we get quite a bit of "native" hay as the grass reintegrates into the hillside at the end of the season. Not sure there is an outlet on our well; but we do have that cistern we could put a hand pump in. But the most practical idea might be the water tank and drip line.
Sure thing. We're at 9200 ft. And the growing season is just so short, when you try traditional growing methods. If you can use extenders (row covers/cold frames/shade covers) and start with small transplants, there is potential, if you can keep it adequately watered.
Colorado Mountain Living thank you!! I am also thinking of a small green house I am at 9700 ft just want to grow some lettuce and tomatoes and such... will be watching your progress in your garden.. by the way your cabin is lovely.
What is your elevation? I'm at 7,680' in northwest Colorado and have a full garden of cold weather plants. My kale, collards, and cabbage have all produced enough to feed our family multiple times, but perhaps it's because they're growing under a hoop house. Colorado gardening definitely gives us a huge learning curve! Check out my garden tips here: mountaingirl.camp/gardening/high-altitude-gardening/. Good luck!
I got tomatoes, 2 varieties of peppers, and kale to grow in pots pretty successfully, tho moths absolutely obliterated the kale. Maybe yours didn't like the soil?
The question is: Why won't lettuce and spinach grow in pots at high altitude. Why? I've tried. here in AZ high country. Nothing grows in pots in the sun.Nothing grows in pots in the shade. Why? Anyone?
I am totally flabergasted. I am shocked at my inability to grow anything in a 1/2 gallon pot. Maybe it's the altitude here. 4800 ft. I think it's air temperature.
potatoes lettuce & broccoli will grow but critters could be troubles & get going on a compost pile for next year. research where you could send a soil sample your area your dealing with virgin soil so no nitrogen. soil needs fertilizer how much is up to the soil sample result. geodome sounds great and it's not like you area gets tornadoes but tons of heavy snow. ive got a polycarbonate greenhouse with vented roof it's been 119*f in there nothing dead yet but i have 150ft buried water line to it. i order seed in january picked it up day before lockdown march 3rd ground was still frozen started planting greenhouses may 15. my sweetcorn is about to tassel but deer are mowing it down even with a 11 wire high electric fence they get in
I have thought about the compost bin issue. I wondered about the "bear proof" bins that lock. I like the ideas of the buried water line. Taht's amazing you got seed to take that early. Very encouraging about greenhouse potential! I've heard the deer can be a real pain; I remember that from North Carolina.
Hello everyone I just moved to colorado springs and im looking for a local farm to purchase chickens and other meats.Any recommendations would be appreciated
What refreshing videos you have so I subscribe to them... I tried watching a couple's videos that was off grid living but actually got tired of the wife showing her almost nude poses all the time... I watch for the pleasure of LEARNING experiences from the people thats living it but damn sure NOT THE NUDITY PART
Nothing grows up here. We're too close to the sun. It's too harsh! Look around there are barely any trees or green around. Can't wait to move back to sea level and closer to coast.
@@ColoradoMountainLiving I have an amazing indoor garden but I was in FL before here and I did my outside garden the exact same way as I did down south and all my plants have scorched :( a shade would definitely help
Check out his video - the guy grew a blooming paradise in the Arizona desert: ruclips.net/video/bQ93DLOXaKc/видео.html Id say in our Colorado the issue is the soil, sun and extreme temperatures. But with greenhouse / permacultural approach i guess we can fight it!
The land has a nice slope.A dugin greenhouse would give you a full 8 mth grow season. It wont be cheap but in winter it's nice to have a sunny 60 degree room to plant in.
That's exactly what we were thinking too. What a great bonus to have a warm, lush area to hang out and plant/harvest in during the winter.
I am building a walipini here on the eastern plains of Colorado. Have grown in the hole I have dug for it but it wasn’t covered in the material. Hope to get it finished up for next season. I have an above greenhouse area I’m just planting now.
I have a balcony garden at my condo at 9340 ft high in Colorado, my balcony faces west and is enclosed with walls on the sides and an upper story deck above, so I have determined I just grow a spring garden all summer. Strawberries, leafy greens, peas, radishes, and a few flowers makes up what I grow. I am experimenting with a tomato and jalapeño growing inside against the window since nights are too cold here, I am hoping the 4ish hours of direct sun they will get will be enough because they do get plenty of indirect light. I keep my herbs inside year round under grow lights.
Oh cool. Keep me posted!
Tomatoes like full sun. Put them under your lights at least a couple more hours. Maybe cherry tomatoes would be better to grow like that.
I have nearly exactly what you're describing as far as the balcony situation goes and sadly I have not had good luck with tomatoes at all. Most of my plants are either not getting enough sun or getting absolutely fried when the afternoon sun finally hits them. I'm thinking of trying lavender and maybe some vines this year. Good luck! I hope your plants fair better than mine did
Thanks for updste. Just be patient with Colorado especially trying to grow things at high altitude.
Thanks! Half the effort is the trouble shooting what works and what doesnt.
Stumbled on this a year late doing some research. I had some luck at high altitudes in the Southern Hemisphere with low tunnels and misting water irrigation for the more temperate annual crops. It seems to simulate the climate/humidity that they like. It’s a cheaper alternative that allows you to get in a traditional “harvest” for canning and such. The greenhouse is ultimately the best solution.
Thanks for the suggestions!
I appreciate your honesty and transparency
Thank you
Hi there we just moved to the mountains. Does arugula bolt, if it’s woody it may have bolted. You could test your soil to see what needs adding or just put bag soil on top and till if you don’t want to test it. I haven’t tested ours. But it looks like the last owner of this garden we now have did that. Soil Bags and till. Putting up a sun shade is great but drip irrigation or sprinklers. I’m so glad you did a video on this. Have a great day.
Yes arugula bolts very quickly. I've since moved onto raised garden beds closer to the house, so it's much easier to water now!
Fantastic. I finally realized I need to stop coveting gardens of other climates and use and reuse whats native in my area. & Unless I want an uphill battle, let the plants that Want to be in my area grow there.
So true!! I've heard lots of promising things that can be grown even at high altitude, but it requires several extra steps.
Thx for your video. High altitude is difficult! Soil may need some amending.
Yes, you are right! And each year is different. Next year I think we're going to take the leap and get a greenhouse dome.
We are wanting to relocate back to high altitude property. I had a few things I could not get to grow. Planning a greenhouse this next round as well as exterior. Thanks you for sharing.
Sure thing. Excited to keep trying!
Great video! I'm moving up into Park County at the end of the month in the mountains around Como. Glad I found your channel, I'm gonna need lots of tips!
Awesome! Thank you!
We live in Park County. I have been gardening up here since 2010. It's definitely a labor of love. Lol. I have had more success than most people, but it's taken hours and hours of my time and lots of money, unfortunately. Good luck! It can be done....
@@corinnemann3089 Thanks! I'm going to try and be patient, set my expectations low and hopefully be pleasantly surprised!
@@corinnemann3089 we live in park county as well. Building a greenhouse to extend our season. But would love some advice on high altitude growing. From Kansas, if you stand still you will root and start growing.
I am lower than you, in Tijeras New Mexico(pinion and juniper forest, 6900 feet, ag zone 7a). This is my second summer gardening and we really have to start seeds indoors in March with a grow lamp supplementing a sunny window. I have caged raised beds, with a drip system. Our early summer was really dry, but all of July and August we've made up for it with monsoons. I am an experienced low desert gardener, so this has been a learning experience. We get red, yukon and red skinned potatoes without any work. My fruit bearing solanums MUST be a 5" plant, put it in the beginning of May. Direct seeding doesn't work for anything except lettuce and spinach, like it did in the desert. I add a layer of 4" compost and a slow release organic fertilizer at the beginning of each spring, mulch with straw(really a bunch of decomposing haybales the previous owner used for archery practice) and again when the rains came. Timing is my biggest unknown. Best of luck to you.
Wow Zone 7a- you are very fortunate! Going to work on my compost game this year. Thanks so much.
Maybe try hugelkulture? Maybe try shade cloth? Short to mid-season seed varieties for a shorter growing season perhaps? Try diverting grey water to your gardens. Your arugula might need wind protection.
Excellent suggestions thank you!
I live in Breckenridge, CO and have had luck with container gardening- mostly in my living room, but we’re officially out of room for plants in our two south-facing windows. Moving plants in and out every day works for small time gardeners, but not obsessive gardeners, like myself. I’m getting a greenhouse this Summer. Hopefully that will significantly extend my growing season. In the meantime, STOP SNOWING, COLORADO!!! ❄️😭❄️
Ah yes, right now we are experimenting with hydroponics and it's turning out pretty well. But yes, a short season once the snow finally stops, for outdoor growing that is.
Great video. One year I was able to get one decent pumpkin in my garden in W. Park. We were known for lettuce and potatoes up here a 100 years ago. I usually stick to lettuce, radishes, carrots and herbs. Occasionally, peppers and tomatoes.
That is awesome!
What about mushrooms?
It is probably too late but I live in the colorado rockies at about 8,700 ft and I have a fabulous garden! You have to amend the heck out of the soil, and mulch like you mean it! Like 4 inches thick.
Rock on! Working on compost this year. Anything you've discovered that grows well/ doesn't grow well at your altitude?
@@ColoradoMountainLiving peas grow great! I put them in even while there is snow on the ground. Squash are good, but protect them from the hail. I have a huge greenhouse for tomatoes, and veggies that take a long time. I grow all kinds of berries. Raspberries, currants, goji, honey berry, stawberries, elderberry, and lingonberry. Apples also do well. I hope to get some pear trees in the ground this year. Other perennials that do well here are chives, mint, and rhubarb. Get some rain barrels and consider raising rabbits or goats. The manure from them is great for the garden and unlike chickens, you don't have to let it cool. We raise meat rabbits and mini goats for milk. I will try and upload a garden tour video later this year, and will share if you are interested.
Oooh nice to hear of the berries. I have honey berry going with lots of blooms. I had a service berry bush but the roots were eaten by voles. II had a long standing rhubarb, but lost it during the drought summer a couple years back because I couldn't keep up with the watering. Same wiht my strawberry plants. I do have some garlic chives coming back this year. We have a large cistern on the property so that's great. . Haven't tried apples yet. Id love to get trees just for the blooms.
I've used the same pots just like you are using in an area in the corner that gets a lot of sun... take this with a grain of salt this is 600 ft above sea level lol.
I hope maybe that by sharing my experience growing purslane and dandylion in pots this could help you grow better in pots because I don't think pots are entirely bad but they do have their downsides...
In my experience, the soil mixture is really important. I did an experiment where I mixed different quantities of sand, compost and mulch using the same quantity of worm castings throughout all pots and I used a water filter to get rid of as much chlorine and flouride as possible from the water so that the fungi and bacteria in the soil microbiome would be balanced and proliferate healthily. This turned out to be excellent for fungal production which helped most of my plants grow really big and strong. The ones with more compost and mulch in the original soil mixture did really excellent whereas the ones with more sand did better in the shade and grew hardier stronger tasting plants but smaller and tended to dry out really quickly when close to the wall. I supposed it had something to do with the fungi being able to retain more moisture which helped with easier availability of nutrients as the fungi and bacterial eat each other and continue to feast on all organic material in the pots the better and a layer of compost may also help maintain moisture. I also noticed the water qaulity in my area is 400 ppm really terrible and the proximity to the wall where there is a lot of radiating heat did tend to dry out my soil rather quickly on hot days making some of my seedlings die. Knowing what I know now I won't put my plants too close to a hot wall next time especially during the heat of summer. But that could be a good thing if you want to protect your potted plants from frost but I imagine since you're so high up you'd have to keep an eye on your pots if you have any clear days the water from the soil may evaporate more quickly where you are and your plants will wilt if you're not careful. Also black pots attract more heat, that is something to consider. I do like my canvas pots but I would probably get white or not so dark ones for the summer crops
That's cool! I will keep experimenting.
I'll probably make several comments here throughout your videos I watch it but one thing you got to think about when planting in pots is if those pots are in the direct sunlight you're actually creating a greenhouse a super hot soil you should go out there midday in July and stick a meat thermometer or something like that down that soil so it kind of temperature you're getting you're actually cooking your root system you got to keep your pots out of the Sun for one thing
Thanks for the tips!
The pots are a fine idea but they end up getting way too cold since they're exposed to the temperature on all sides. When I start stuff in big pots I keep them inside till I',m ready to put them in the ground. I have an indoor solarium so they still get a lot of sun. Of course this is basically the same thing as starting seedlings inside.
Great tip! It's really cold up here (the ground temp) even in May.
you have to constantly trim arugala. as soon as you can eat it- do. Don't worry about stunting it- it likes to be cut back right away and it actually encourages it.
Good tip. I find ours gets tough and leggy outside if i just leave it.
I keep wanting to know how high are those bees exactly? Beautiful country
About 9300 feet.
I’ve put mulch over the soil of my containers and my plants are doing much better. I put some cheap chiffon over them as a hail barrier, and I think it’s helping them avoid being scorched by the sun. I think I’m a bit lower than you, but maybe try that?
That's a great suggestion to help with retaining moisture. I think you're right on about having any layer being a protectant to the sun and hail. Last year I used row covers and they had blown away on me due to high winds.
Colorado Mountain Living my hubby made a cheap wood frame and I stapled the fabric right to the wood. So far this year it’s worked. Good luck on whatever you try!
I have immersed myself watching on You Tube permaculture farming which is quite encouraging. With a double-layered giant greenhouse employing permaculture concepts would probably give rewarding results for the hard work you’re putting into your homestead. I see that you know of that already. (Look at me talking of planting with no farming experience, hehehe).
There is so much to learn about permaculture and then also translating that to high altitude/ cold climate farming. We have a lot to learn I'm sure!
Great video ..I love all the different aspects..beekeeping, cabin building and gardening. Gardening is hit and miss... you find out what works for your area and adapt. One question..maybe use some fertilizer or organic compost? You can use a sprayer or your water pail to mix some up and put on your plants..looks like your soil could use some amendments
Thanks Ron. We do have access to some mulch(for free) and have a resource for horse manure. I'm sure fertilizer for the garden would be a huge help. I was thinking of going to make a compost bin to get something started at home.
You had that freak snow, to cold. Here too in Vancouver B.C
Yes, always get some pop up snow in may or June, so really need to be prepared with the proper coverings. I'm sure Canada has its extremes.
Your soil needs help. Mulch will retain water but rocks don't retain anything for plants except on hills by retaining soil. Adding compost and mulch might improve things but you need to decide whether you're growing flowers and ground cover or food. Then make the move to areas better suited of your desire and efforts.
We have access to truckloads of free mulch in our community, so no excuse not to use it. And you are correct; need to designate proper areas to grow the appropriate plant. I'd like a couple of raised garden beds on the other side of the retaining wall for now (unless we decide to go forward with the greenhouse, but that would be next year at the earliest).
Former Coloradan. Born/Raised in Leadville. As I remember Blueberries, Black berries, & raspberries all di really well. Wonder if you could grow Salmon Berry?
I've heard Salmon Berry is good for mountain climates. One bush I got last year was HOney berry which is like a tiny blueberry. Will keep trying!
Have you amended your soil at all? Colorado is known for having very clayey soil. We amend with compost, manure and top soil combo every year and our vegetables were all prolific last year!
Not yet! Tried adding some alpaca manure to the raised garden beds, but hoping to get into more composting this coming year to improve that even more.
@@ColoradoMountainLiving I recently read the square foot gardening book by Mel Bartholomew, the book mentions Mel's mix soil, which is a combination of vermiculite, compost and peat moss. 1/3 or each. This should give our Colorado soil the drainage and nutrients it needs.
Video not working on RUclips, just says no stream tap to retry, I’ve verified I’m connected to the internet
Wonder if there is a RUclips fail? Someone else said this; but then everyone else has left comments and viewed the video ok. Maybe try again?
Colorado Mountain Living yes it seems to be working now, but RUclips took more than a day, was just giving you a heads up about the situation, I think RUclips should give you a week on everyone’s recommended list for that error, continued success.
Sincerely
Fabrizio
I am interested in finding out if this is a big culture in your state for research interests. Do a lot of people like to grow natural foods and sell at farmers markets? Thanks if anyone knows.
Yes the farmers markets are huge here in multiple areas.
@@ColoradoMountainLiving That sounds like a really fine place to live. Enjoy
You need ground cover to keep the soil moist especially if watering is a challenge.
Thanks for the tip!
This is one of the #1 reasons we love NC --- yea yea there are some drawbacks but check out my garden here --- its incredible- In CO, not so much :( you guys keep heads up and moving forward -- and remember -- there was snow a month ago :O
NC is a haven for growing just about anything! I miss the EASY tomatoes; sweet potatoes and okra and blackberries!! So sad to leave those behind when we moved.
Agreed. Colorado definitely isn't the ideal for gardeners. Even my strongest plants need to be shaded. Can't wait to get back to the Coast 😆
Not to mention it never rains here. Like ever and its so dry that what rain we do get is immediately absorbed
Your garden looks very dusty. I would divide it into two, a higher native drought garden and a lower or downslope to the west irrigated garden.
Is there an outlet on your well head. I would connect a pipe via a non return valve to the well head and run it down through the copse to connect to your water tank. Disconnect and drain the pipe and tank in the autumn so there is nothing to freeze.
I would also add vegetable matter to the irrigated part so that it holds more water. If you have access the produce from a stable that is good if you leave it to rest for a year or two.
As I posted before you could also get some hay from a wild flower meadow (with owners consent) and spread it on the slope to increase the amount of flowers.
The plants on your balcony are a bit wind swept. If you put them closer together they will shelter each other to some extent.
My goal going forward will be more intentional landscaping where one garden will be the xeroscape native plants; one will be for growing food and maybe another shade flower garden. Interestingly we get quite a bit of "native" hay as the grass reintegrates into the hillside at the end of the season. Not sure there is an outlet on our well; but we do have that cistern we could put a hand pump in. But the most practical idea might be the water tank and drip line.
Thanks for this video, I will try to grow some plants too. What is your elevation?
Sure thing. We're at 9200 ft. And the growing season is just so short, when you try traditional growing methods. If you can use extenders (row covers/cold frames/shade covers) and start with small transplants, there is potential, if you can keep it adequately watered.
Colorado Mountain Living thank you!! I am also thinking of a small green house I am at 9700 ft just want to grow some lettuce and tomatoes and such... will be watching your progress in your garden.. by the way your cabin is lovely.
Where in Colorado ? We have a lot in Ordway o but don’t know what to grow
Gilpin county. About 9300 ft.
@@ColoradoMountainLiving that it is highland
Nice vid. Thank you
Thank you too!
Thanks for the video! What elevation is your land at?
Sure thing. It's 9300 ft.
What is your elevation? I'm at 7,680' in northwest Colorado and have a full garden of cold weather plants. My kale, collards, and cabbage have all produced enough to feed our family multiple times, but perhaps it's because they're growing under a hoop house. Colorado gardening definitely gives us a huge learning curve! Check out my garden tips here: mountaingirl.camp/gardening/high-altitude-gardening/. Good luck!
Hey thanks so much for sharing!!Will do. We are over 9000 ft here.
Does the sun not fry your leafy greens in the summer? Or do you plant something else for the season?
@colorado mountain living, I’m curious, what is your elevation there?
We are at 9300 ft.
Thanks for the reply! That’s definitely up there. Good luck this growing season!
What is the variety of the strawberries?
honestly i have no idea since they were given to us.
I got tomatoes, 2 varieties of peppers, and kale to grow in pots pretty successfully, tho moths absolutely obliterated the kale. Maybe yours didn't like the soil?
What elevation? There's a big difference between 9300 and 8000 ft and under.
The question is: Why won't lettuce and spinach grow in pots at high altitude. Why?
I've tried. here in AZ high country. Nothing grows in pots in the sun.Nothing grows in pots in the shade. Why?
Anyone?
I was able to grow romaine lettuce in pots, maybe the water is draining too fast?
I am totally flabergasted. I am shocked at my inability to grow anything in a 1/2 gallon pot.
Maybe it's the altitude here. 4800 ft.
I think it's air temperature.
potatoes lettuce & broccoli will grow but critters could be troubles & get going on a compost pile for next year. research where you could send a soil sample your area your dealing with virgin soil so no nitrogen. soil needs fertilizer how much is up to the soil sample result. geodome sounds great and it's not like you area gets tornadoes but tons of heavy snow. ive got a polycarbonate greenhouse with vented roof it's been 119*f in there nothing dead yet but i have 150ft buried water line to it. i order seed in january picked it up day before lockdown march 3rd ground was still frozen started planting greenhouses may 15. my sweetcorn is about to tassel but deer are mowing it down even with a 11 wire high electric fence they get in
I have thought about the compost bin issue. I wondered about the "bear proof" bins that lock. I like the ideas of the buried water line. Taht's amazing you got seed to take that early. Very encouraging about greenhouse potential! I've heard the deer can be a real pain; I remember that from North Carolina.
here you considered growing micro greens?
Yep. That's what my grow light project is going to be. I've done it before, but forget about them, so this time will document my progress.
A greenhouse would help you a lot ! Another project :)
Yes that is true! a great project for next year :)
Hello everyone I just moved to colorado springs and im looking for a local farm to purchase chickens and other meats.Any recommendations would be appreciated
Hello! Not sure about the colorado springs area, that's quite far south of us.
@@ColoradoMountainLiving thanks for taking time to respond
Hi I’m at 11,500 in the colorado Rockies … Is it to high?
Probably not too high for a green house. You could probably grow greens ok.
I was listening to a song called "Miami, My Amy" this morning and thought about you... Came in for lunch and here is a video from you.... lol...
Bahahaha. there you go!
a tip : watch series on flixzone. I've been using them for watching lots of of movies these days.
@Miguel Bo Yup, I have been watching on flixzone} for since december myself =)
@Miguel Bo Yup, I've been using flixzone} for since november myself =)
@Miguel Bo Yup, I've been watching on flixzone} for since december myself :)
what happen to the sound I don't hear anything
I'm not sure what is going on with RUclips, a few people have reported video issues when trying to watch. Seems fixed now.
What part of Colorado?
Gilpin County
Video is not working, No stream apparently.
Hmmm. try again?
I believe you would benefit from some serious soil amendments.
Thank you
shout out to the sempervivum living it's best life at 10:00
awesome!!
What refreshing videos you have so I subscribe to them...
I tried watching a couple's videos that was off grid living but actually got tired of the wife showing her almost nude poses all the time...
I watch for the pleasure of LEARNING experiences from the people thats living it but damn sure NOT THE NUDITY PART
Thanks! wEll we are just regular people and not trying to win any beauty contests. Thanks for coming over!
Nothing grows up here. We're too close to the sun. It's too harsh! Look around there are barely any trees or green around. Can't wait to move back to sea level and closer to coast.
What helps is using a shade cover in the garden, which i did not do this year.
@@ColoradoMountainLiving I have an amazing indoor garden but I was in FL before here and I did my outside garden the exact same way as I did down south and all my plants have scorched :( a shade would definitely help
Check out his video - the guy grew a blooming paradise in the Arizona desert: ruclips.net/video/bQ93DLOXaKc/видео.html
Id say in our Colorado the issue is the soil, sun and extreme temperatures. But with greenhouse / permacultural approach i guess we can fight it!
Nice!! Thanks so much for the link. I guess you really can grow anywhere if you really try to optimize your resources.
Your thumb doesn't look very green so far. lol!
Nope not a tinge.
Really love this video. It's realistic!
Thank you so much!
You must build yourself a greenhouse,see Lumnah Acres videos on there greenhouse build.
Thanks! will do. I think that would really help us a lot.
Dig a swale
That's been suggested before. Not a bad idea.