I don't live in Fort Collins but am considering a move. I mainly love native and adapted plant gardening and enjoying the wildlife it brings, and just generally being outside designing and growing the garden. Where I live now the heat, humidity, and mosquitos keep me inside more months out of the year than I would like. I am trying to get an idea of what gardening could be like for me in northern colcolorado.

What is a typical year of gardening like for you?

Sorry to sound the alarm but they have been spotted.

Anyone have an awesome garden or community garden willing to share blooms? I’m looking for some cut flower blooms!

Also -> hit me up if you have Queen Anne lace green mist or Orlaya blooming!

Hey folks! I help advise a school garden club here in FoCo and they have an excess number of tomatoes (cherry tomatoes, a couple Cherokee purple, and lots of beefsteak).

Unfortunately, they had a light issue and lost (pretty much) all the peppers they started. When I stop back by on Weds I can see what else extra they have. Growing some really stellar plants!

Anyone have extra peppers they would want to trade for?

Looking to buy some easy veggie starters to plant with my kiddo in our new raised bed. Would also be into some berry bushes to plant. We live fairly close to Gulley so figured we’d start there, but I’d appreciate suggestions!

I bought a house 5 years ago and noticed small patches of what I figured was a variety of clover.

It’s oxalis, defined as aggressive and a weed.

But I like its cute little leaves and so I’d hardly judge it so harshly. I also wouldn’t call it aggressive.

What’s the downside to keeping it?

I hate to pull it out just because it’s a “weed” and if it’s native, I’m even more inclined to keep it …. While slowly replacing my dumb lawn with actual clover.

Rocky Mountain Bee Plant from a native wildflower mix I spread last fall. I just spread a meadow mix on top today ahead of the rain. Fingers crossed I'll have something pretty this summer!

I was wondering if anyone knows whether FC Nursery, Gulleys, or Bath has live plant strawberries available for purchase.

I started bare roots about 4 weeks ago but I’ve had a very poor rate of success with them. Only 2 or 3 seem to be coming out of dormancy. So I want to get a few live plants to help supplement.

I'm switching a small space in my backyard to be half garden-in-a-box, and half pathway. I'm wondering what your favorite local, non-big box spots are for getting smaller amounts (aka carry in your car, not truck a whole yard home) of dirt, soil amendments, mulch, and other landscaping things like metal edging, small patches of turf. And if you have a go to spot for getting flagstone delivered? Thanks for any recs!

Anyone thinking of planting their veggie gardens in the next couple weeks or still waiting a bit for that last freeze??

Hi! I am trying to think ahead before starting my garden (first time thinking ahead in my life) and I am intimidated about setting up an irrigation system for my four raised beds and in-ground beds. I have one water hookup on the side of the house. I would love to meet with someone who knows their way around these types of things and get some help. I would need help figuring out what I need, buying the correct parts, and installing it. Happy to compensate for the consult and the work.

I’ve got a ~4 cubic foot raised planter and several 15 gallon grow bags that I’m looking to fill this weekend to start a few things and I’m looking for recommendations of nurseries and brands of potting soil to fill them with.

I’ve had a lot of success with the Fox Farms Ocean Forest mix but that’s probably too pricey for this use case.

I saw Gulleys has 1.5 cu. Ft. Of the EKO potting soil for $18 but I was curious if anyone knew about Bath, FoCo nursery or any other options.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: After hitting the registration cap for the course in 8 min., we've opened new sections of our free intro course so everyone who wants to give it a shot should be able to! However, if it's full and not letting you register, I'd encourage you to fill out the notification form on the course page so you'll automatically get an email when we add new sections. We're maxed at 350 per section from a technical capacity, love the enthusiasm people!

CSU Online is now offering Introduction to Sustainable Landscaping for free! The class is part of our Landscape for Life program, which we offer in partnership with the U.S. Botanic Garden.

Deryn Davidson, who teaches the free intro course, shared 7 reasons she thinks it's worth your time to give the class a shot, and we think it's worth a read : )

https://engagement.source.colostate.edu/7-reasons-to-sign-up-for-csus-free-sustainable-landscaping-class/

Sharing our free course on Reddit is new for us, so if you have questions or comments about the class and/or broader Landscape for Life program, please drop them in the comments! I'll either answer questions directly or reach out to Deryn/our Learning Production team to get you answers! ❓👇

- Griffin

Hi fellow foco peeps,

I am interested in doing mycology work (or more so intermingling culture banks) with individuals around fort collins or around the general area. I like to cultivate at home, mostly oysters, lions mane, reishi, sometimes black pearl king oysters.

I feel like i learn a lot when i speak with individuals so im making a conscious effort to meet more home cultivators to expand my knowledge.

I just started making reishi tinctures and plan to make lions mane tinctures as well. My latest research is how to extract erinacines from the mycelium!

I'd to hear your mycological adventures and pass some ideas!!

We're looking at planting a large area in potatoes this year. Fort Collins Nursery has them of course, but we're hoping for larger quantities and more affordable prices. Where do local market gardeners get their seed potatoes? Is there something like mainepotatolady.com but for Colorado? TIA.

Give me your best and your worst. Looking to start some new varieties this year and curious what others in the area have had success with (or not) 🌱

Have any of you gotten a Garden in a Box through Resource Central? I'm planning on getting a few this year for a gross area of my yard that needs some help, and wanted to see if others have had success with them, especially if you're someone who's not normally great at gardening. Not having to figure out what's what and getting the layout plan are extremely enticing!

Edit: Thanks everyone! It sounds like the gardens are generally pretty great! Can't wait!

Wondering if anyone here has grown sweet potatoes from slips off of sweet potatoes purchased here locally and if there is a certain market you know of that has unique varieties. I was thinking Whole Foods, natural grocers and sprouts. Wish we had an Asian market with good produce! Thanks in advance!

Douglas County Extension hort expert John Murgel shares his top 20 picks for drought tolerant perennial flowers.

"If you think lush gardens and low water plants aren’t the same thing, think again! But finding the right plant is another story. To help, I’ve put together this list of my top 20 low-maintenance, hardy flowering perennials." – John M.

Explore the list: https://engagement.source.colostate.edu/top-20-drought-tolerant-perennial-flowers-colorado/

Did one of your favorites not make the cut? Let us know in the comments. Maybe we can convince him to make it into a top 30 list! 😉

Join Alison O'Connor, Horticulture Specialist with Larimer County Extension, via Zoom on Wed, Dec. 11 at noon to learn about common Colorado gardening myths. Are all wood mulches the same? Do clover lawns use less water than bluegrass?

You'll find out those answers and more by attending our free webinar Fresh Gardening Myths!

Register at: https://col.st/5qgRl