Vegetables That Grow in Colorado

Colorado is known for breathtaking landscapes and snow-capped Rocky Mountains, but the state of Colorado is not a major supplier of produce because the thick, clay-like soil and cool, dry climate. Regardless, many vegetables are still grown in Colorado, including lettuce, green peppers and spinach. These vegetables grow well in soil that has been enriched with compost.

Lettuce

• Lettuce grows all year long in the high-altitude areas of Colorado. These vegetables thrive in soils amended with plenty of compost and manure. Boston, romaine and head lettuce all grow well in Colorado. Standard head lettuce has only a few trace minerals and vitamins so it is not the most nutritious type. Romaine and Boston lettuce are more nutritious choices as the are high in B vitamins along with vitamins A and C.

Bell Peppers

• Bell peppers are commonly found in Colorado because they are easy to grow even in dense soils. Composting is needed and plants do need to be protected fro the cold. Bell peppers are rich in vitamins C, A and other minerals. The World's Healthiest Foods said, bell papers are also loaded with fiber and other nutrients, like vitamins E and B, manganese, and copper. Green peppers are excellent additions to salads and and baked dishes like chicken. You can even stuff green peppers with meat loaf and cook them in the oven.

Spinach and Other Veggies

• Spinach is a robust plant that can grow in all different types of soils, making it an ideal vegetable for Colorado. The soil can get dry in Colorado due to harsh winds, so be sure to moisten the soil often because spinach needs moisture to grow properly.

  Other vegetables grown in Colorado include potatoes, beans and tomatoes--though all require compost and tilling to grow in the state's poor soil and protection from the cool climate (in the case of tomatoes). According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the largest vegetable crop in Colorado is potatoes. Onions, garlic, pumpkin and squash are also grown in Colorado.