Season for Seeds
Growing plants from seed is one of the best ways to get variety in your garden, while saving money. Timing is everything if you want to reap the rewards of seed starting. Start seeds too soon, and your plants might be ready to go to the garden before temperatures are warm enough. Start them too late, and some plants will not have enough time to mature during our relatively short growing season. Timing information on seed packs is often listed in relation to the average last frost date. Depending where you live in Broomfield, our average last frost is mid to late May, so we have a few weeks before it’s time to start even our earliest seeds indoors.
However, now is a great time to be shopping for seeds and planning your garden! Browse seed catalogs, your local nursery, and the Broomfield Seed Library. If you’ve never used the Seed Library before, start by filling out this membership form. After that, you can visit the Seed Library on the second floor of the Broomfield Library as many times as you like. Check out the Seed Library FAQ for more information.
If you bought seeds you loved last year, no need to toss them out! Check for expiration dates and find resources below on proper seed storage and how to test seeds for viability with a simple germination test. You can also view recorded webinars to brush up on starting seeds and saving seeds from your garden!
Looking for even more variety? Don’t miss the second annual Community Seed Swap and Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 22 at the Broomfield Library. Bring the family for eco-themed activities for all ages, including bilingual family story time.
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Client Question of the Month:
I love the specialty squash I bought at the store. Can I save seeds from it to plant in my garden?
Answer:
It depends! While this is theoretically possible, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, vegetables are harvested for sale at what is called “market maturity,” the ideal time for crops to be harvested, often travel, and make it to consumers without being overripe or beyond. When vegetables are harvested for the purpose of producing viable seeds, they are left to mature on the plant for much longer. Second, many common produce varieties at the grocery store are hybrid varieties. While these are bred for desirable characteristics, hybrid plants do not produce true to the parent plant from seed, so you are not likely to get a result similar to what you bought at the market. Find more information on seed saving basics in the resources section below.
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Garden In A Box Sales Start March 1
Tackle that problem area in your yard once and for all by planting a beautiful, waterwise Garden In A Box this spring! Offered by Resource Central, the collection goes on sale March 1. Broomfield residents are eligible for a $25 discount on their purchase, but hurry - supplies are limited and sell out fast! Learn more at Broomfield.org/SaveWater.
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Got Mulch?
Are you in need of mulch for your garden or landscape? Thanks to local tree and branch recycling efforts, Broomfield residents have a ready supply. Any mulch located on the outside of the fence at the Tree Branch Recycle Center (2990 West 124th Avenue) is available to all residents at no cost. Bring your own shovel and take as much as you need.
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Webinar: Cold-Hardy Cacti and Succulents
Wednesday, March 8, 12 p.m.
Learn about the amazing variety of cold-hardy cacti and succulents that can easily be grown in your Colorado garden. Dr. Tony Koski, CSU Extension Turfgrass Specialist, will present this free online class. Remember, you can find recordings of previous horticulture classes anytime on the CO-Horts Blog website.
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2023 Tree Diversity Conference
Friday, March 10, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Denver Botanic Gardens
Now in its ninth year, the Tree Diversity Conference continues to explore the relationships between landscape design, horticultural practices, and the use of a greater variety of tree species to protect urban forests.
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Second Saturdays at Spur
March 11, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
CSU Spur Campus
Second Saturdays at CSU Spur are free and open to the public with family-friendly programs like cooking in the CSU Spur kitchen, watching veterinarians perform surgery, engaging with scientists at work, and playing in a kid’s kitchen or vet clinic.
A food truck is available for lunch purchase.
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STEM Activity: Plant a Plant Person!
Part of the 4-H At-Home Garden Series, this activity helps kids in grades 3-8 learn about the basic parts and needs of plants while creating their very own plant person.
Find other STEM activities on the Broomfield CSU Extension website.
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Cottage Food Safety Training
Offered by Colorado State University Extension, this nationally-recognized training program covers the specifics of the Colorado Cottage Food Act and how to safely operate a food business from a home kitchen. The $50 online class is next offered on these dates:
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Wyoming Bee College and Garden-to-Market Conference
Interested in learning all things beekeeping or perhaps ways you can make money from your garden? Head up to Cheyenne on March 24-25 for two educational conferences under one roof, and at one price! Billed as fun and informative for the whole family, kids ages 7-15 are free with a paying adult.
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Seed Starting, Vegetable Gardening
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Give Your Feedback on Universal Waste Collection
A Universal Collection program would change the current residential waste collection system from many licensed haulers to a City and County of Broomfield managed contract consisting of a single hauler or a few haulers assigned to different parts of Broomfield. Visit broomfieldvoice.com to learn more about this project and view answers to community questions. Provide your input through this survey by March 1.
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Enter the Broomfield Days Theme Contest
Show your community what Broomfield looks like to you by designing and creating the 2023 Broomfield Days theme. The theme includes a logo and slogan! The 2023 winner will receive four Broomfield Days tee shirts featuring their winning logo and your design will be used throughout the event.
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Reach out to CSU Extension in Broomfield
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Colorado State University Extension is an equal opportunity provider. | Colorado State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations. | CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension ensures meaningful access and equal opportunities to participate to individuals whose first language is not English.
Colorado State University Extension es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. | Colorado State University no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad y se compromete a proporcionar adaptaciones razonables. | Office of Engagement and Extension de CSU garantiza acceso significativo e igualdad de oportunidades para participar a las personas quienes su primer idioma no es el inglés.
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