Plants for each season
One of the most important things a new gardener can learn is which plants grow well in each season. Because no matter how well you shade it, lettuce does not like it when it's 90° outside.
But what are the seasons?
It’s something I get asked a lot. So to talk about the plants, we also have to talk about the characteristics of the seasons they grow in. Everyone talks about seasons as winter, spring, summer, and fall, but in the gardening world we like to talk about the seasons as cold, cool, warm, and hot.
Cold
The cold season is the season with average temperatures below freezing. For us here in Denver, that is usually December, January, and February. The days during these cold season months are short and the angle of the sun in the sky can oftentimes leave our gardens in shade (or under ice) for most of the day. Not much is actively growing during this season, but there are things that can be left in the ground to harvest when the soil warms. You're not planting anything in the cold season, but the following crops are what may be in your garden at this time.
Roots
Garlic, Onion, Shallot, Carrot, Asparagus, Rhubarb are all dormant or very slow growing
Greens
Spinach, Cabbage, Bok Choy can all withstand frost and can grow slowly with winter protection
Fruits
Perennial fruits are dormant
Herbs
Perennial herbs are dormant
Cool
The cool season is when average temperatures are between freezing at 65°. During this time, there is a high probability of frost, and in Denver, sometimes snow storms or 80° days. We actually have two cool seasons here, the spring season in March, April and the beginning of May, and the fall season in October and November. These also happen to be the most volatile times for planting in our region since the temperature swings and wind coupled with late and early snows can kill crops. We actually plant quite a bit in the cool seasons in Denver, but most gardeners miss out on these windows of opportunity.
Roots
Garlic, Onion, Beets, Carrots, Leeks, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Radish, Turnip, Potato, Asparagus
Greens
Swiss Chard, Spinach, Lettuces, Arugula, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi, Tatsoi, Celery, Mustard, Brussels Sprouts
Fruits
Strawberries, Raspberries
Legumes
Peas, Chickpeas, Fava Beans
Herbs
Chives, Dill, Cilantro
Warm
The warm season is generally when daytime temperatures average between 65° and 85°. For Denver, that is usually from mid May until mid July. July until October will fluctuate between being warm and hotter than the sun, but luckily we don't get hot enough for long enough here to limit our warm season crops (though production will slow down a bit). We plant a lot of the people pleasers in the warm season and we also have the opportunity to plant things we may have missed planting in the cool season.
Roots
Carrots, Potato, Sweet Potato, Beets
Greens
Swiss Chard, Kale
Legumes and Grains
Corn, Green Beans, Dry Beans
Fruits
Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant, Squash, Cucumber, Okra, Tomatillo, Melon, Watermelon, Strawberries, Raspberry, Blackberry
Herbs
Basil, Parsley, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, Mint, Tarragon, Nasturtium
Hot
The hot season is when temperatures average above 85°. For us in Denver, that is usually July & August. These are the months where gardeners worry about their flowering plants since consistent temperatures above 90° will cause flowers to drop and production to slow. But don't worry, it really doesn't last that long. We don't plant much for the hot season here, but we do start preparing for our fall gardens during this time. The plants listed below are what really thrive during the hot season, but to get anything out of them, they need to be planted during the warm season.
Roots
Sweet Potato
Fruits
Luffa, Okra, Tomatillo
No matter what time of year you start your garden, it's important to know what you can plant. Still need more guidance? We offer garden designs and installations, planting plans, coaching, and plant memberships for all levels of gardeners. Schedule your free 20 minute discovery call to get started.
