Frost is Coming, Denver Gardeners: How to Tuck Your Garden In for Fall
The days are getting shorter, the mornings are cooler, and believe it or not, frost is right around the corner here in Denver. The current forecast is calling for frost around October 14, but as always, it’s smart to keep an eye on the weather since predictions can shift quickly.
So what does that mean for your backyard garden? It’s time to start the process of tucking your plants in for the season. Here’s what I’m doing this week in my own beds, and what you can do to set your garden up for a smooth transition into fall and winter.
1. Top Your Warm-Season Crops 🍅
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, winter squash—if they’re still pushing out flowers or tiny fruits, it’s time to give them a trim. Snip off anything that won’t have enough time to size up in the next two weeks.
This helps redirect the plant’s energy into ripening the fruits you do want to harvest before frost hits. Think of it as encouraging your plants to finish strong.
2. Say Goodbye to Joyless Plants 👋
If you’ve got plants covered in powdery mildew, hosting bug hotels, or just limping along without much production, it’s okay (actually, it’s smart) to pull them out now.
Clearing struggling plants frees up space, reduces pest and disease pressure, and makes room for the crops that are still thriving in these cooler temps.
3. Prep Your Frost Protection 🛡️
If you’re planning to extend your season, now’s the moment to dust off your frost cloth, hoops, or row covers. Having them ready means you won’t be scrambling when that first frosty night shows up.
Pro tip:
Keep a few clothespins or landscape staples handy so you can secure covers quickly on a cold evening.
4. Sow Cool-Season Seeds 🥬
It’s not too late to squeeze in another round of fast-growing fall favorites! Radishes, spinach, and lettuce still have time to shine in Denver’s fall weather. These crops love the cooler temps and can often handle light frosts.
5. Get Your Garlic Ready 🧄
Fall is garlic-planting season! If you haven’t ordered your seed garlic yet, now’s the time. Some of my favorite local sources are:
Echter’s Nursery
Tagawa Gardens
City Floral Garden Center
Nick’s Garden Center
Read next: Ultimate Guide to Growing Garlic
Your Turn: What’s on Your Frost-Prep Checklist?
Every gardener has their own rituals when it comes to prepping for frost. Do you have a favorite tip or trick for extending the season? Share it in the comments so we can all head into fall feeling ready and confident.
Together, we’ll keep our Denver gardens thriving, even as the nights turn chilly.
Want the Full List of my favorite Denver kitchen garden tools?
This is just the tip of the trowel! I put together a full, beautifully designed checklist of all my favorite gardening tools—perfect for beginners or anyone wanting to simplify their setup.
It includes soil tools, weeding gadgets, harvest helpers, and even my favorite freezer containers.
Get the free garden tool checklist!
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Meet the Gardener
I’m Elisa Mack - a mom and Denverite who went from being a green-ish thumb to a kitchen garden fanatic simply by dedicating myself to the study of all things Colorado gardening.
Landscapers don’t design. And nurseries don’t make house calls.
We take a more full-service approach, from designing your dream garden to keeping it beautiful year-round.
And as your coach, I’ll help eliminate the guesswork through every season, no matter your level of knowledge.
