Gardening in the Yampa Valley takes three things: planning, patience and perseverence. With only two months of frost-free time to plant, pick and prune, organization is key. In order to maximize this summer’s bounty, we reached out to some of the valley’s green-fingered experts to compile a list of top tips: 

Start seeds early indoors. Place in sunny spots to get a head start on produce such as tomatoes. Allow seedlings to acclimatize to cooler temperatures by placing trays or pots outside in the day, but return indoors before nighttime. Wait to plant anything permanently in the ground until after the last frost. 

Choose south-facing locations for raised beds and borders when possible. Plants will benefit from the warmer soil, which lengthens the growing season. 

Prepare the ground, bed or pots with a mix of soil and compost. Ensure the area offers good drainage and sunlight. Try to water plants daily. 

Pruning is essential to the health of a plant. In terms of produce, prune after the plant has flowered and goes to seed. 

Try succession planting every few weeks to avoid all produce growing at the same time. This will enable a continuous flow of fruit, vegetables and herbs to harvest throughout the summer. 

Choose plant varieties marked with the least “days to harvest”. Cool-season favorites include beets, kale, salad greens, radishes, carrots, onions, potatoes, peas and summer squash. Extend the life of an herb garden by drying and freezing cut leaves. Use flowers from herb plants to infuse vinegar and drizzle over salads all winter long. 

For more information, contact a local expert from the Colorado State Extension Master Gardener volunteer program at 970-879- 0825, by e-mail at: rcextension@co.routt.co.us, or visit the office at 136 Sixth St. on Thursdays 10AM–1PM for a free consultation.