bookshelf: GARDENING SERIES ONLINE
Short-Season, High-Altitude Gardening
Growing productive plants in Idaho’s high desert or mountain regions above 4,500 feet requires an attention to detail rarely discussed in popular garden guides.
To the rescue comes UI Extension’s Steve Love, community horticulture specialist
at the UI Aberdeen Research & Extension Center. Love’s team this year produced nine publications in the Short-Season, High-Altitude
Gardening series. All are available free to download this summer at info.ag.uidaho.edu:591/catalog/gardening.html.
Topics range from the importance of managing soils to selecting and planting
trees, shrubs, and vines; annuals, perennials, and ornamental grasses; landscaping
with native plants; choosing and growing vegetables and fruits.
HERE ARE SAMPLE TIPS:
Microclimates are important, especially ones providing extra warmth, such as southern exposures next to buildings. In the Sun Valley area, for example, close neighbors may have significantly different microclimates.
Raised planting beds warm faster in spring than do ground plantings, an aid when growing vegetables and flowers.
Don’t over fertilize: Applications for short-season gardens should be reduced by one-third to one-half over long-season garden recommendations.
Irrigation needs: Insufficient water during spring and summer slows plant development and delays maturity.
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