What is the online pre-sale? The online pre-sale offers individuals a chance to reserve the plants they are especially interested in, in advance. When you purchase via pre-sale you are reserving existing plants for pick up once they reach maturity and have been hardened off. Quantities of each variety are limited, so ordering by pre-sale gives you the best chance to get exactly what you're looking for.
How do I pay for my plants? Please select one of the payment options available on the purchasing site. At this time, we accept Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, and cash. If these options pose a challenge, please reach out. I care deeply about food sovereignty and equitable access to high quality produce; if cost is prohibitive to you, please reach out by email denverbackyardgarden@gmail.com
Can I shop your plants in person? Yes! I will have in person plant sales as well on Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5, weather permitting. You are welcome to shop in person then. However, please note that the plants available in person will be those not already purchased in pre-sale. That means, varieties that sell-out in pre-sale will not be available for sale in person. I will do my best to post an updated list of available varieties in advance of the first in person sale.
When can I pick up my plants? Several pick up options are available. For ease of coordination, please select one of the pick up options available on the purchasing site at checkout.
How do you select your varieties? Varieties are selected based on a number of factors including: characteristics that will make them more likely to be successful in being grown in the Front Range environment such as shorter times to maturity as well as adaptation to heat, cold, and/or drought. Many of my seeds are sourced from local growers/companies dedicated to growing successfully in the Front Range. I try to have varieties for different growing set ups. (Windowsill and balcony growers, I've got you covered!) I also select varieties that seem fun, interesting, unusual, or that I am personally interested in adding to my garden.
What should I do if I have questions about specific varieties or what might be best for me? I am happy to help answer questions! Feel free to reach out via email (denverbackyardgarden@gmail.com)
How do you grow your plants? All plants are started indoors under grow lights in soil blocks. Once they reach sufficient maturity most are transplanted into 4" biodegradable pots. I use only organic soil and organic fertilizers.
Will plants be hardened off? All plants will have spent time outdoors and I aim to have everything fully hardened off. However, it is best practice to let plants acclimate to your microclimate before planting and/or to use best practices such as cold protection or shade cloth to manage transplant stress. Additionally, many plants (e.g., tomatoes, peppers) do not tolerate cold temps, and especially cold soil, so please be sure to keep an eye on the weather, measure your soil temps, and choose a planting calendar tailored to your growing environment. Please consult the planting guide for more specific transplant questions.
How much do your plants cost? I try to keep my plants as reasonably priced as possible. Most plants are in the $5 range. See specific plant costs on the pre-sale ordering page (once live). I care deeply about food sovereignty and equitable access to high quality produce. If cost is prohibitive to you, please reach out by email denverbackyardgarden@gmail.com
What should I know about planting my seedlings? You will be given a planting guide with your purchase. This guide will detail the best ways to care for your seedlings until they go into the ground as well as the things you should know about when and how to successfully plant outdoors. If you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
What can I expect from my plants? I don't sell plants I wouldn't put in my own garden. That means that plants will be healthy and at an appropriate stage for transplant when you buy them. If you are accustomed to purchasing from a big box store, some of my plants may look smaller/less mature than you are used to. Your flowering plants will not have flowers on them, for example. That is because they are planted at a regionally appropriate time, optimized to transplant and establish successfully.
There is a variety on your varieties list but I don't see it on the pre-sale orders? Most of the time, this is because the variety has sold out. To be safe, I do sometimes 'hold' extras of plant types off inventory to make sure I can honor all pre-sale commitments. If you are especially interested in a variety, please feel free to reach out by email (denverbackyardgarden@gmail.com) to check on availability.