Plant seeds for fall (cool weather) crops including lettuce, spinach, radishes, Swiss chard, kale and arugula. Consider growing an edible fall crop in containers with a slow-release fertilizer.
- Tomatoes are coming in hot this time of year. Pick them daily and enjoy or give away. Pinch off new yellow flowers since these blossoms won’t have time to mature and the plant can then focus on ripening fruit.
- Harvest apples when they pull easily off the tree (or you notice them falling to the ground)
- Weeds that have gone to seed will be back again next year in increased numbers unless addressed now. Common annual weeds include crabgrass, purslane, mallow and knotweed. Tough perennial weeds include dandelions, oxalis, plantain and bindweed. Do you best to get rid of weeds before next spring, when they'll be back...
- Remember not to put weeds gone to seed in your compost pile.
- Keep up with your efforts to eradicate Japanese Beetles from your garden. In the early morning, scout for these bugs, pick them off plants and leave and drop in soapy water.
- Prevent winter sunscald damage to trunks of young, thin-barked, leafless trees by covering them with tree wrap. Be sure to remove the wrap in April.
- Perform general clean up of the garden. Remove and discard diseased foliage and dead annuals and cut back perennials, leaving about a three-inch crown. Exceptions are ornamental grasses, butterfly bush, Russian sage, agastache and other late-bloomers that shouldn’t be cut back until late February or early March.
- Tomatoes: Did you know that exposure to 40-degree temperatures will destroy the enzyme responsible for ripening tomatoes? Before weather predictions of 40 degrees or below, harvest any remaining green tomatoes and bring them indoors. Wrap in newspapers until ripe or place on a rack, not touching, in a place that has 65- 70-degree temperatures. Or try pulling the whole plant and hanging it, upside down, in a frost-free garage or porch. The fruit will slowly ripen. Can, freeze or dry extra fruit for winter use.
- Toxic Chemicals: Get rid of old, toxic household and garden chemicals. Check here for dates and more information.
- Cut and dry herbs for indoor use this winter and spring. Or make pesto with all that basil!
- Keep watering! Fall can be a dry and dusty time of year in Colorado, and plants still need water until temps get below freezing.