1St Time Garden

Carrots can be hard to grow unless you use really loose soil - there are varieties that are shorter and fatter than what you would buy at the store, those are easier. Our bunnies tend to mow down our young pea and bean plants. Once the plants get more mature, they tend to lose interest. You can net the plants when they are young to protect them.
Lots of stuff is cold tolerant and can be planted now (not sure of your CO climate right now) Peas, lettuce, radish, beets, spinach, brocc, cauliflower, greens, brussel sprouts are all frost tolerant.
We wait until chance of frost is past (usually mid May here) to plant green bean seeds, cucumber seeds, squash seeds or plants and we buy plants for tomatoes and peppers.
Don't forget the herbs! Parsley, cilantro and basil (make homemade basil pesto, YUM!

If you come across anymore specific questions as you go along, feel free to message me. I'm no "master gardener" but have been back yard gardening for 10 yrs.

My suggestion is to look up your local Master Gardeners. These people are extremely well-trained (they go through extensive classes to become certified), and because it is an all-volunteer organization, they are really nice people, they aren't selling anything, and their only motivation is that they love gardening and want you to love it, too. You can ask them what varieties work well in your area, what will keep the rabbits away (since it's likely some of them have already encountered the rabbits in your area), what type of soil you probably already have (and therefore if you will need to amend it, add fertilizer, etc). My mom has been a Master Gardener for years and I know that she teaches free classes, volunteers at the phone hotline, etc. Definitely call them and they will hook you up with all the advice you'll need, specific to your area!

I will just add that heirloom plants are tasty if you are going to plant :)

I would go to your local garden store and ask them some questions. Also just google garden, and your area will pull up loads of info. I have raised beds too and what I did was used chicken wire around all four of my beds so bunnies wouldn't be able to get in and eat my plants. I would use plants of veggies to start with and then do some seeds. I would also look to see what will do best for your type of area. Use organic compost, get good soil and use a combination of soil to put in your beds and have it all mixed up together! Ask the garden store what all u should put in your beds. Good Luck and have some fun with your garden!

How exciting!! Gardening is therapeutic in so many ways. I'd suggest you get a book or two that you can refer to a lot. The first book I got was great. I think it was from better homes and gardens and worth the few dollars as it covers all the above mentioned questions you have. That's where I'd leave it. Get a big book rather than a flimsy mag and soak up the knowledge! Make sure it does cover everything including ideas you may want to try next year or later. Good Luck and Have fun. P.S. Enjoy sharing the bounty. That's half the fun!

My method is far from perfect. I wouldn't even call it a real method. :) I prefer plants over seeds. I'm impatient and like to have my produce as soon as possible. Plus, then I know right away what's a weed and what's a plant.

I always wait to plant until the chance of frost is over. In Ohio, it's usually anytime after Mother's Day.

I use tomato cages to keep my tomatoes up, if you don't they'll wind up falling over. I also use a small fence to keep my cucumbers off of the ground. I have a small garden, so vines trailing out into the yard isn't something I want to deal with.

As for the bunnies, human hair. Next time you get your hair cut, ask them to put it in a baggie for you. Sprinkle it around the outer edges of your garden. The bunnies don't like the smell. You might have to repeat it every few weeks.