Rite of spring: CRMS plant sale returns in Carbondale

CARBONDALE ” Area gardeners looking to spend a little green on a gardening cause and load up on organically raised vegetables and perennials take note: The Colorado Rocky Mountain School annual plant sale takes place Saturday, May 16, in Carbondale.

The popular sale typically has the green-thumb set lined up outside the greenhouse door awaiting the 9 a.m. start.

CRMS students have been at work since December, taking cuttings and starting seeds for a large collection of plants chosen for their suitability to the Roaring Fork Valley climate.

Fruit and veggie growers will find more than 25 varieties of short-season tomatoes, nine types of peppers, artichokes, arugula, squashes, melons, rhubarb, Italian alpine strawberries and more. The valley’s historic red McClure seed potatoes will also be available, along with an array of culinary herbs. Annuals and perennials are also sold. A complete list of the available plants is posted at http://www.crms.org.

Any plants that remain after the sale ends at 3 p.m. will be available from 5 to 6 p.m., May 17-21.

The plant sale benefits the school’s garden program, which involves students in the CRMS organic gardening operation, from composting waste from the prep school’s kitchen to planting, weeding, watering and harvesting produce that is served in the school cafeteria.