All Larimer County Administrative Offices, Courts, and the District Attorney will be closed Tuesday, November 11, 2025, to celebrate Veterans Day. The Larimer County Landfill will be open.
Critical county services are not disrupted by closures.
The results from the 2024 Winter Squash Trial are in. The study will be repeated in 2025 with new data coming out in December 2025 - January 2026.
Tomato Trials
Members of the Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener program in Larimer County completed two tomato trials.
One trial consisted of 12 early-maturing, in-ground varieties that was conducted in 2019 & 2021. The second trial conducted in 2020 & 2021 featured 3 small-fruited varieties for containers.
You can see the results of those trials below.
Sweet Pepper Trial
In 2022 & 2023, Larimer County Master Gardeners completed a trial of 15 sweet pepper varieties. The trial included 3 varieties of lunchbox peppers.
The results are available below.
Where Can I Find These Varieties?
We do not endorse any specific company or variety. All varieties are "commercially available," meaning they can be purchased by the general public. If you want to grow one of the varieties mentioned in a trial, we recommend you check with local nurseries or online garden supply retailers.
No endorsement of products mentioned is intended, nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.
The Purpose of the Study
There has been an explosion of interest in backyard production of fresh vegetables. As many gardeners face smaller growing spaces, growing squash (summer or winter) pose a challenge because of their larger plant size and potentially limited fruit yield. This study examined four types of winter squash (acorn, spaghetti, butternut, and delicata), totaling 13 different varieties, that were marketed as “space saving” or a “bush-type habit”. The study will be repeated in 2025.
Materials & Methods
Thirteen winter squash varieties noted as having a smaller footprint were selected for this study. Four squash types used: acorn, butternut, spaghetti, and delicata. Seeds were planted into hilled ground beds on June 7, 2024, with two seeds per planting hole. After germination, plants were thinned to one seedling per hill. Plants were spaced on four-foot centers with four plants per replication; varieties were randomized between rows. Irrigation was provided via furrow irrigation. During the growing season, weed control was maintained through hand-pulling, hoeing, and the use of ground cloth. Squash were fertilized twice using slow-release fertilizer; the first application was when the plants formed four true leaves, and the second when the plants began setting fruit.
Plant growth measurements were taken on August 31, 2024. The height and width of plants were recorded to assess compactness; observations of disease and insect presence were also noted. Harvesting took place on October 4, 2024, following a period of cool weather with light frost. At harvest, fruit from each plant was counted, weighed, and measured to determine the average number of fruits per plant, as well as the average size and weight of individual fruits. Taste testing was conducted on October 23, 2024, with 17 participants. The squash was oven-roasted without seasoning, and participants evaluated the squash based on flavor, texture, color, tenderness, smell, and overall appeal. The squash types were judged within their respective categories (i.e. acorn squash was compared only to other acorn squash varieties).
Fast Facts:
Winter squash are not always feasible to grow because of their potentially large plant size and yields.
There were 13 winter squash varieties in the research trial.
Winter squash were evaluated for overall size, flavor, and yield.
Results & Comments
The summer of 2024 was one of the hottest and driest in Colorado Front Range history. Insect pressure included grasshoppers and squash beetles, though neither caused significant damage to the squash plants. The primary disease observed was powdery mildew, which appeared late in the season and had minimal impact on plant health and yield. The squash varieties that produced the greatest number of fruits per type included Goldilocks (acorn), Butter Baby (butternut), Angel Hair (spaghetti), and Bush Delicata. Within each squash type, there were both compact and vining varieties. For example, in the acorn squash category, Goldilocks was a compact variety, whereas Early Acorn displayed a vining growth habit. In the taste test, Bush Delicata and Honey Bear (acorn) were ranked as having the best overall flavor. Among all squash varieties, butternut squash was rated highest for overall flavor, excluding the delicata type.
Squash Type
Variety
Number Fruits/ Plant*
Fruit Weight (lbs)
Plant Width (in)**
Plant Habitat
Overall Flavor (1-5)***
Acorn
Honey Bear
2.5
1.0
28.0
Bush
4.2
Goldilocks
4.2
1.2
37.9
Bush
2.0
Reno
2.3
1.5
37.3
Bush
2.9
Early Acorn
3.9
1.5
69.7
Vining
3.9
Bush Table Queen
2.7
1.1
31.4
Bush
3.0
Butternut
Honeynut
4.3
0.8
38.6
Vining
3.9
Butter Baby
5.1
1.1
32
Vining
3.2
Butter Bush
1.9
1.5
34.8
Semi-bush
3.3
Spaghetti
Angel Hair
9.4
1.9
66.7
Vining
2.2
Pinnacle
3.3
2.6
36.9
Vining
3.2
Hasta La Pasta
5.3
1.8
37.1
Vining
2.5
Tivoli
2.9
3.7
37.0
Semi-bush
2.9
Delicata (only variety)
Bush Delicata
2.3
1.2
38.2
Semi-bush
4.3
* The intention of this study was to determine compact and high-yielding winter squash varieties for backyard gardens. ** Varieties were originally selected as those marketed as bush-types (compact). *** Flavor was scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 having poor taste and 5 being very flavorful.
Thanks to the following:
Andy Clark, ARDEC-South farm manager; the CSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture; and the many Larimer and Weld County Master Gardeners who supported this research project.
After evaluating two years of data, Hybrid New Girl was the earliest maturing and had the highest fruit yield in the field trials. Blind taste tests were utilized to determine what varieties had the best flavor. Hybrid New Girl was rated as having the best flavor for 2019 and 2021.
In-Ground Varieties Trial Details
Jon Weiss, CSU Extension Master Gardener in Larimer County Alison O’Connor, PhD, Horticulture Agent, CSU Extension
Purpose of the study:
Tomatoes are one of the most popular garden vegetables. One question often asked is “what tomato varieties do best in northern Colorado?” To answer this question, members of the CSU Extension Master Gardener program in Larimer County, in cooperation with the CSU Specialty Crops program, conducted a trial with 12 tomato varieties in 2019 and 2021.
Materials & Methods:
Hybrid and open-pollinated tomato varieties were included, along with determinate (bush) and indeterminate growth habits. The trial design for both years were replicated and randomized. Tomatoes were grown in the greenhouse and transplanted on June 5, 2019, and June 10, 2021 at the CSU ARDEC-South research farm. Tomatoes in 2019 were planted into ground beds covered with black plastic and irrigated with drip irrigation. Tomatoes in 2021 were planted into ground beds without black plastic and irrigated via furrow irrigation. Harvesting was done as needed as individual varieties ripened.
Results:
By comparing the tables, some varieties were consistent year to year, despite differing temperatures, growing season length, and weather events (hail). Overall, the trial results offer the home gardener valuable information to help determine what varieties to grow in northern Colorado.
Table 1. Maturity, Yield, and Fruit Size
Table 1. Maturity, Yield, and Fruit Size
Variety
Maturity* 2019
Maturity* 2021
Yield – lbs. 2019
Yield – lbs. 2021
Average Fruit Size – oz. 2019
Average Fruit Size – oz. 2021
Polbig
2
45.1
52.2
3.7
3.1
Valley Girl
2
40.89
67.1
2.5
2.9
Celebrity
3
53
69.1
4.6
4
Early Girl
2
52.8
64.9
2.3
2.9
New Girl
1
1
82.9
92.8
2.3
2.3
Moskvich
3
17.3
55.3
1.6
2.6
Carbon
3
61.4
71.3**
5.9
5.9
Chef's Choice Black
3
42
91
4.4
5.2
Big Beef
2
76.8
84.4
4.6
3.9
Mtn. Fresh Plus
37.2
0
4.9
0
Mtn. Merrit
22.7
0
4.7
0
Mtn. Rogue
18.7
0
3.4
0
Galahad
2
0
49
0
2.7
Defiant
2
0
68.6
0
2.4
Damsel
3
0
54.9
0
3.4
*Maturity for 2019: 1 = first variety harvested *Maturity for 2021: 1 = first variety harvested while 3 = later maturing varieties
Hybrid Patio Choice Yellow stood out as an early, high-yielding, large cherry size variety whose compact plant habit cascaded over the container.
Container Varieties Trial Details
Jon Weiss, CSU Extension Master Gardener in Larimer County Alison O’Connor, PhD, Horticulture Agent, CSU Extension
Purpose
There has been an explosion of interest in the growing of fresh vegetables by homeowners around the country. Many of these homeowners have extremely limited space and are looking for varieties to fill that confined space.
Small-fruited tomato (i.e., cherry, pear, grape) varieties are popular, but the vast majority have a larger, sprawling plant habit that may not work for small spaces. To address this issue, the Larimer County Master Gardeners conducted a three-variety evaluation trial. The varieties in the trial have a more compact habit and are commercially available.
Varieties
Patio Choice Yellow (round yellow fruit)
Cherry Falls (round cherry fruit)
Totem (round cherry fruit)
Methodology
Tomatoes were seeded and grown in the greenhouse, until transplanting on June 6, 2021 into large containers as part of the CSU Annual Flower Trials. Each container had a single plant and were irrigated and fertilized via drip irrigation. Five containers per variety were utilized (with the exception of Totem that only had four replications). The plants were randomized within the allotted area and grown by trial staff. Maturity, yield, and average fruit size were collected for each variety.
Results
Cherry Falls was an early maturing variety with a compact, somewhat open growth habit. Totem had a dense growth habit and was the latest maturing of the three. Patio Choice Yellow was as early as Cherry Falls, with larger fruit, and higher yield. Overall, the results offer the home gardener valuable information to help determine what varieties to grow in northern Colorado.
There has been an explosion of interest in backyard production of fresh vegetables around the country. Sweet peppers are a favorite to grow on the Colorado Front Range, though selection of varieties is challenged by the relatively short growing and harvest season. Members of the Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener program in Larimer County, in cooperation with the CSU Specialty Crops program, conducted a trial with 15 sweet pepper varieties in 2022 and 2023.
Materials and Methods
Hybrid and open-pollinated pepper varieties known to be early to early mid-season in maturity were selected. Twelve varieties were sweet bell peppers and three were “lunchbox” type. Peppers were grown in the greenhouse and transplanted in early June in 2022 and 2023 at the CSU ARDEC-South (Fort Collins, Colo.) research farm. The plants were planted into ground beds covered with black plastic and irrigated with drip irrigation. It was a replicated and randomized trial.
Three plants from each replication were harvested. There were three harvests during 2022 and two in 2023 – the final harvest removed all fruit from plants. Heat and rabbit damage affected the pepper plants in 2022, so theoretical yields were used for each variety. During 2023, the cool, wet spring and temperature variations throughout the growing season slowed plant development. In 2022, 16 participants provided feedback on pepper taste and overall flavor.
Fast Facts
Sweet peppers are a favorite of backyard gardeners, but the Colorado Front Range short growing season limits varieties that can be grown successfully.
There were 15 pepper varieties in the research trial.
Peppers were evaluated for flavor and yield.
Results & Comments
All varieties averaged less than 24" in plant height. The variety 'Ace’ was the earliest maturing variety in both years. 'Olympus' was the highest yielding variety for both years. For those wanting to grow a stuffing pepper, both ‘Olympus’ and ‘King Arthur’ are good choices. The varieties with largest fruit size in 2022 and 2023 were ‘Olympus’ and 'King Arthur' respectively. ‘Purple Beauty’ scored the lowest in taste from participants.
Of the “lunchbox” varieties, 'Just Sweet' stood out by its high yield, flavor, and larger fruit size. Though 'Cajun Belle' is sold as a sweet pepper, it does have a spicy heat. Overall, these trial results offer the home gardener valuable information to help determine what varieties to grow in northern Colorado.
Dr. Mark Uchanski and Jane Davey, CSUSpecialty Crops Program; the CSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture; ARDEC-South faculty and staff; and the many Larimer County Master Gardeners who supported this research project.
Larimer County Colorado State University Extension
Colorado State University Extension is an equal opportunity provider. Colorado State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations. CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension ensures meaningful access and equal opportunities to participate to individuals whose first language is not English. Colorado State University Extension es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
Colorado State University no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad y se compromete a proporcionar adaptaciones razonables. Office of Engagement and Extension de CSU garantiza acceso significativo e igualdad de oportunidades para participar a las personas quienes su primer idioma no es el inglés.
Tomato Trials
Top-performing Varieties:
Varieties
Fast Facts