What this guide covers
The Mountain West spans USDA hardiness zones 3b through 8b across six states, with frost-free growing seasons ranging from 99 days at high-elevation sites in Montana to 205 days at lower elevations in New Mexico. Altitude is the dominant variable: for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain, expect roughly 3–5 fewer frost-free days and 3.5°F lower average temperatures. A garden at 5,000 feet in Denver operates under different constraints than one at 7,500 feet in Leadville despite both being in Colorado.
The book contains 22,000 words across these sections:
Month-by-month planting calendars
Four sub-regional schedules (Front Range, High Plains, Mountain Valleys, Intermountain) that factor in elevation-dependent frost timing. Each calendar specifies indoor seed-starting dates calibrated to the short transplant windows characteristic of mountain growing seasons.
25+ vegetable profiles
Variety recommendations selected for fast maturity (critical at elevations above 6,000 feet where the frost window may be under 100 days), UV tolerance, and performance under wide diurnal temperature swings: 90°F days followed by 40°F nights are common above 5,500 feet.
Regional growing strategies
- Altitude-adjusted growing parameters: evapotranspiration increases ~4% per 1,000 feet of elevation, requiring modified irrigation schedules
- Season-extension infrastructure: cold frames, hoop houses, and Wall O’ Water data with efficacy quantified by elevation band
- Arid and rocky soil management: amendment rates for alkaline mountain soils, water-retention strategies for sandy and gravelly substrates
- Wildlife management (elk, deer, bears, voles) with fence height and deterrent specifications by species
- Hail and extreme weather preparation: row-cover recovery timelines and succession-planting strategies as insurance
Who this guide is for
Gardeners in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, or New Mexico (USDA zones 3b–8b) who need planting schedules and growing techniques adapted to altitude, aridity, and extreme temperature variation.
The guide includes variety recommendations for Mountain West elevations. Available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Not sure which zone you garden in? Enter your ZIP code on the Gardening by Zone home page to look it up.