Community Garden Updates -April 2, 2026

By Garden Manager Emmy Ingham MS, RD

Welcome to spring… or summer?  We seem to have passed through several seasons but nonetheless, here we are. And while I welcome the growing season with open arms, I do feel it important to have a conversation on where we are heading with less moisture and changing temperatures, overall. So, thanks for being here and lets still be excited for what this garden season brings, regardless if it might look a little different. 

While warmer weather might give us the impression we are behind in our gardening endeavors, please don’t be deceived. Stick to what you know. Plant your cold season crops now. These early vegetables cannot only withstand cold temperatures, but they also need them to germinate, grow, set fruit, and mature. We are still getting low temperatures at night which support this growth. 

On the flip side, while the temperatures have been rising during the day, this will not support the growth of warm season crops ( beans, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peppers, zucchini, pumpkin and winter squash, tomato, and watermelon). Warm season crops require higher soil and air temperatures and they are always planted after the last frost date. For us, that is generally Mother’s Day. 

While it does not appear that we are experiencing a frost any time soon, it could happen. Better to be cautious than sorry. The temperatures maybe be changing this year, but the nature of the plants has not.

All that said, you might consider planting more drought tolerant veggies this year. For drought-tolerant gardening in Colorado, prioritize deep-rooted, heat-loving crops like okra, pole beans, zucchini, Swiss chard, Armenian cucumbers, and carrots, beets, parsnips. These are just a few go to’s. And of course, we all love tomatoes, so look to Roma, San Marzano, and Black Krim varieties to minimize on water usage. To retain moisture, mulch as needed. Mulch conserves water, moderates the soil temperature, and prevents moisture-sucking weeds.

These are just a few tips to send you into this 2026 gardening season. Stay tuned as we all evolve and grow together.  

— happy seeding

Emmy Ingham (your local gardening friend at Berthoud Local)

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