Colorado Springs gardeners are being advised to begin end-of-season preparations as cooler temperatures approach, even as recent warm weather may have suggested otherwise.
On average, Colorado Springs sees its first freezing temperatures at the beginning of October. That timeline means the window for outdoor growing is narrowing quickly. While some gardens still have healthy plants, the growing season comes to an end with the first freezing temperatures of the year — and that could be just around the corner.
A representative from Spencer's Lawn and Garden Centers said there are still about three weeks of growing season remaining, and advised gardeners to begin harvesting tomatoes, pulling the plants up, hanging them upside down, and letting them ripen on the vine.
Once the season ends, gardeners are encouraged to remove plants, apply compost, and begin tilling the soil — completing preparation in the fall to reduce the workload come spring.
How quickly temperatures drop in the coming weeks will determine how much of the remaining season local gardeners are able to use.