Twelve Step Program for Tomatoes – or – Tomato Addiction
I guess I need a twelve-step program to help me with my tomato addiction. I grow WAY too many tomatoes on top of my mountain. Even the Denver Post said I had a problem in an article last year. I just can’t stop growing tomatoes and since I was told repeatedly that I would NOT be able to grow tomatoes when we arrived here 19 years ago, I have considered that a challenge. I now stand at a ridiculous 80 tomato varieties. We also grow pumpkins way bigger than your head and the most succulent sweet corn.
The wild Colorado climate has taught me this: there are no rules, everything changes all of the time – that’s the rule.
We’ve learned to combine techniques to grow the foods we want, so when they said it couldn’t be done at a mere 8,120 ft., we came up with a yes instead of a no. At 5,000 ft. it might take two steps to grow tomatoes but at 10,000 ft – more like twelve. It may take 12 steps to grow tomatoes way up high, but they’ll taste better than any tomato you’ve ever eaten in your life.
Guest Blogger: Penn Parmenter
Featured Instructor: Penn Parmenter
Penn and her husband, Cord, will be instructing the sustainable greenhouse class at Denver Botanic Gardens. Penn and Cord have been gardening and growing food in the Wet Mountains north of Westcliffe, Colorado since 1992. Their three abundant gardens sit on a mountain at 8,120 ft. and feature numerous high altitude growing methods.
Have a tomato addiction? It all starts with admitting that you have a problem. Next step…come and join Penn and Cord for a class or two on successful high altitude growing. Saving and Adapting Seed for High Altitude (Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.); Combining Techniques for High Altitude (Saturday, April 30 from 1 – 3 p.m.); Mountain Food Growing 101 (Sunday, May 1 from 1-5 p.m.). Click on the desired class to register online or call 720-865-3580.
May 19, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Indeed… the challenges of growing tomatoes in Colorado are many. Assuming all soil preparation is adequate, I’ve found success in not planting my tomatoes too early in the season. Waiting a couple extra weeks (end of May planting) tends to ensure warmer soil and the overnight lows to not be so cold. This seems to help keep stunting and disease to a minimum. I’m also very careful not to over water and make sure the soil is draining properly. Just a few of my observations. Thanks for sharing.
May 28, 2011 at 10:09 pm
I’m in Fremont county just north of the Wet Mtns but at a lower elevation in drier conditions…. I’m a tomato fanatic too!