Getting started with high-altitude vegetable gardening

Direct seed refers to the method of planting where you take seeds, such as packs of lettuce seeds, and directly put them into the soil where they are intended to grow, rather than starting the seeds indoors or purchasing starter plants to transplant into the garden.

It's generally challenging to grow warm season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers in Summit County due to the cooler temperatures, especially since they need to be kept above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the nights often get cooler than this. However, with the use of a greenhouse or by starting plants indoors, it may be possible to grow these types of vegetables.

You can typically start planting in Summit County around the first to the second week of June, keeping an eye on the weather forecast for frost. The raised beds at the community gardens tend to warm up appropriately around this time.

Watering needs can vary based on weather conditions, but in June (a typically dry month), your garden may need more frequent watering, potentially even daily. Later in the summer months, less frequent watering may be needed due to monsoonal rains.

For voles, options are limited in an organic garden, but natural deterrents like castor oil, peppermint oil, and garlic oil may help. For deer, human hair and human urine (not directly on the plants) can help deter them due to the human scent.

Yes, a second planting is possible, especially for vegetables that have a short growing season, such as radishes that can mature in 30 to 40 days. This allows you to plant seeds later in the summer and still harvest the vegetables before the end of the growing season.

Succession planting involves planting new seeds at intervals, like every few weeks, to ensure a continuous supply of fresh vegetables. This is particularly useful for greens, as many of them taste best when they're young and tender. It allows for a constant cycle of harvesting as older plants mature and new ones begin to grow.