Growing Season 2025
Berthoud’s Fickel Farmers Market
Fickel Park, 620 Mountain Ave., Berthoud Saturdays, beginning June 14, 9am–1pm www.berthoud.org/1430/The-Berthoud-Market
Erie Farmers Market
Briggs Street between Wells and Moffatt, Erie Thursdays, 5–8pm, May 15–Sept. 18 www.realfarmersmarketco.com
Estes Valley Farmers Market
Visitor Center, 500 Big Thompson Ave., EP Thursdays, 8am–1pm, June–Sept. www.facebook.com/EstesValleyFarmersMarket
Farmers Market at Fairgrounds Park 700 S. Railroad Ave., Loveland Sundays, 9am–1pm, June 1–Sept. 28 www.cityofloveland.org/farmersmarket
Fort Collins Farmers Market
1001 E. Harmony Rd., FC (rain or shine) Sundays, 10am–2pm, May 4–Nov. 9 Wednesdays, 10am–2pm, June 4–Sept. 24
fortcollinsfarmersmarket.org www.facebook.com/fortcollinsfarmersmarket
Greeley Summer Farmers Market
Union Pacific Depot, 902 7th Ave., GR Saturdays, 8am–Noon, May 3–Oct. 25 www.greeleygov.com/fm
Larimer County Farmers Market
200 W. Oak St., FC (courthouse parking lot) Saturdays, 9am–1pm, May 17–Oct. 25 www.larimercountyfarmersmarket.org
Loveland West Farmers Market at Jax 2665 W Eisenhower Blvd, LV Tuesdays, 9am–1pm, April 22–Nov. 4 www.facebook.com/ LovelandWestFarmersMarket
Timnath Sunday Market
Colorado Feed & Grain, 4138 Main St., Timnath Second & Fourth Sundays 10am–2pm, May–Oct www.TimnathFarmersMarket.org
Windsor Farmers Market
Boardwalk Park, 100 5th St., Windsor Saturdays, 8am–12:30pm, June 7–Sept. 6 www.windsorgov.com/FarmersMarket
FARM STANDS 2025 NoCo Farmers Markets
Bartels Farm
3424 E. Douglas Rd., Fort Collins thebartelsfarm.com www.facebook.com/The-Bartels-PumpkinPatch-137755902661
Chapmans Produce
31985 CR 17, Windsor www.facebook.com/ChapmansProduce
Colorado Fresh Farms
8101 S. Timberline Rd., Fort Collins www.coloradofreshfarms.com
Desiderata Ranch
4617 W. CR 2, Berthoud www.desiderataranch.org
Folks Farm & Seed
2917 S. Taft Hill Rd., Fort Collins www.folksfarmandseed.com
Garden Sweet
719 W. Willox Ln., Fort Collins www.gardensweet.com
Green Dog Farm CSA
3421 West CR 54G, Laporte (next to Overland Foods) www.greendogfarmcsa.com
Something about being on a farm just feels good. The pace feels relaxed and your interactions, maybe, more genuine. So swing by a farm stand soon and pick up some deliciousness while you’re at it.
Hazel Dell Mushrooms
3925 E. CR 32 (Carpenter Rd.), Fort Collins www.hazeldellmushrooms.com
Hoffman Farms, LLC
3545 W. O St., Greeley www.hoffmanproduce.com
Hope Farms
1601 N. Shields St., Fort Collins www.facebook.com/CULTIVATINGHOPECO
Jodar Farms/Fort Collins Vine Farm
Order online/pick up in Fort Collins www.jodarfarms.com
Long Shadow Farm
Order online/pick up Berthoud www.longshadowfarm.wixsite.com/longshadow
Native Hill Farm
2100 CR 54G, Fort Collins www.nativehillfarm.com
Ollin Farms
8627 N. 95th St., Longmont www.ollinfarms.com
On the Vine at Richmond Farms
3611 Richmond Dr., Fort Collins www.onthevineatrichmondfarms.com
OwlTree Farm
4605 E. CR 58, Fort Collins www.owltreefarmco.com
Papa Joe’s Honey
4855 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland www.facebook.com/PapaJoesLocalHoney
Pope Farms and Produce 6501 West 28th St., Greeley www.popefarmsproduce.com
Scofield Fruits
1821 W Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland www.scofieldfruits.com
Sunny Daze Gardens
901 S. CR 5, Fort Collins www.sunnydazegardens.com
Tigges Farm 12404 CR 64½, Greeley www.facebook.com/tigges.farm
Vibrant Life Farms 3315 Glade Rd., Loveland Order online, delivery to Loveland/Fort Collins www.vibrantlifefarms.com
Well Fed Farmstead 2229 W. Vine Dr., Fort Collins www.wellfedfarmstead.com
’TIS THE SEASON for gardening, and if you’ve found the task too daunting to try in the past, this year’s the time to get started! Read on to find out why you can have your own garden, regardless of any space, time or physical constraints that may be holding you back.
WHY TRY IT?
Let’s start with the obvious reason: You want to! Container gardens brighten up the landscape, attract birds and desirable insects, and can save you money on your grocery bill!
The perfect solution in small spaces, all it takes is a pot or two outside your front door to get started. Small gardening pots are portable, making them convenient to bring inside and protect in poor weather, or to move to a new locale as desired.
Not only that, but compared to larger, in-ground gardens, containers tend to attract fewer weeds and use less water overall. Best of all, they are easy on the back. Consider setting small containers on a table or bench as you plant or opt for larger pots that sit high off the ground already.
WHAT TO GROW
Container varieties of many plants can be found at your local gardening store. Other options include dwarf varieties which stay small and require less space.
When choosing plants, the sky is the limit. Flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables can all be grown in pots, and many can be mixed together to create a more attractive and efficient raised garden.
While a large variety of plants can be grown in Colorado, some make better choices than others for beginners. Zinnias and petunias are favorite flower varieties to start with, while peas, beans, and radishes are some of the easiest vegetables to grow. From the fruit family, strawberries, peppers, tomatoes and squash tend to be fairly foolproof, and basil and chives make great starter herbs.
USEFUL TIPS
It’s important to give your plants a strong start by selecting the right containers. While nearly any type of pot, basket, barrel or tub can be used for planting, whatever you choose should have proper drainage. You can easily create your own drainage if needed by drilling or poking holes in the bottom of a container.
Next, it’s time to choose a location for your garden. Check the planting instructions on your seed packets or plant containers and follow sunlight recommendations, which may call for shade, partial sun or full sun.
When you’re ready to plant, be sure to purchase potting soil, which is formulated for container planting, rather
than garden soil. Keep in mind that plants in containers need to be watered more frequently than plants in the ground, and soil should be kept damp to a knuckle deep at all times.
Follow directions on the seed packet or container when planting to ensure proper spacing and pot depth and add stakes or trellises to containers when called for.
Finally, keep track of what you plant and record your successes along with any lessons learned in a journal to refer back to next year. Reap your rewards, learn from your mistakes, and you’ll be a gardening pro in no time! Happy planting!
