Colorado’s crisp fall weather doesn’t have to mean the end of your gardening adventures. With some clever planning and the right techniques, you can keep growing plants well into the cooler months.
Extending your garden season means enjoying home-grown veggies longer and making the most of your outdoor space even as temperatures drop.
1. Cold Frames For Cozy Crops
Cold frames act like mini-greenhouses, trapping heat while protecting plants from frost. Build one using old windows or clear plastic stretched over a wooden box.
Place your cold frame in a sunny spot and open the lid on warm days to prevent overheating. This simple structure can keep greens like spinach, kale, and lettuce growing weeks longer than they would in open ground.
2. Row Covers Shield Tender Plants
Lightweight fabric row covers float over plants like magical blankets, keeping them 4-6 degrees warmer at night. Simply drape the material over hoops or directly on plants before evening frost arrives.
Remove covers during sunny days to allow pollinators access. Arugula, radishes, and carrots thrive under this protection, giving you fresh harvests when neighbors’ gardens have long stopped producing.
3. Mulch Magic For Root Vegetables
Piling thick straw or leaf mulch around root crops creates a cozy insulation layer. Root vegetables like carrots, beets, and parsnips actually taste sweeter after light frosts hit them.
With 6-8 inches of mulch protection, you can keep harvesting these underground treasures well into December in many Colorado areas. The soil stays warm longer under this natural blanket, while the tops might look dormant.
4. Water Jugs As Thermal Batteries
Dark-colored water jugs absorb heat during sunny Colorado days and release it slowly overnight. Place several gallon jugs painted black around sensitive plants to create mini microclimates.
This simple trick works especially well inside cold frames or greenhouses. The water’s thermal mass stabilizes temperatures, preventing the rapid cooling that damages plants during clear fall nights when temperatures plummet quickly.
5. Fall-Friendly Crops Extend Harvests
Some vegetables actually prefer Colorado’s cooler fall temperatures! Plant fast-growing, cold-tolerant varieties like ‘Winter Density’ lettuce, ‘Merlin’ spinach, and ‘Vates’ kale in late summer.
These tough plants can handle light frosts and keep producing when summer crops have given up. Mache, claytonia, and certain Asian greens even improve in flavor after experiencing cold weather, making fall the perfect season for gourmet salads.
6. Potted Plants For Quick Protection
Growing fall crops in containers offers instant mobility when frost threatens. Keep pots of herbs, greens, and cool-season flowers on patios during nice days, then simply roll them into garages or against warm house walls overnight.
Choose dark-colored containers which absorb more heat. This flexibility allows you to take advantage of Colorado’s famous sunny fall days while avoiding the damaging effects of those chilly mountain nights.
7. Season-Extending Greenhouse Tunnels
Hoop houses made from PVC pipe and clear plastic create affordable mini-greenhouses right over existing garden beds. The tunnel shape sheds snow while capturing precious solar heat.
Many Colorado gardeners gain 4-6 extra weeks of growing time with these simple structures. Secure the plastic well to prevent damage from the state’s famous gusty winds! Inside these protective tunnels, crops like chard, broccoli and peas thrive despite falling outdoor temperatures.
8. Strategic Microclimates Maximize Warmth
Colorado gardens have natural warm spots waiting to be discovered! South-facing areas against brick walls or large rocks store heat during sunny days and release it slowly at night.
Plant fall crops in these sheltered spots to gain weeks of extra growing time. Even the area under evergreen trees offers protection from early frost. Paying attention to how wind, sun, and structures interact creates natural growing zones that extend your garden’s productive life.