What to plant this week in Colorado Springs, CO
With average last frosts ending around April 21, Colorado Springs gardeners are now in the final stretch to plant warm-season heat lovers like Bush Beans and Cucumber before temperatures stabilize. This week marks a critical shift from spring cleanup to active cultivation as the air warms up quickly against our high-elevation backdrop.
The next 7 days
Colorado Springs, COGrowing in Colorado Springs right now
- Protect young Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash plants with floating row covers; thin mountain air cools them rapidly in the mornings despite sunny days.
- Soil temperatures in the Pikes Peak foothills are often cooler than zone charts suggest, so wait a full week after the April 21 frost average before sowing Okra or Cucumber seeds directly.
- Water newly transplanted Garlic and Beet seedlings deeply immediately; our semi-arid climate requires consistent moisture to prevent shock during this transition period.
Sow this week
7 crops- Bush Bean
- Cucumber
- French Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
58 crops- Anaheim (New Mexico) Pepper
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Carrot
- Cayenne Pepper
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Honeydew Melon
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Malabar Spinach
- Marconi Pepper
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Serrano Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans every two weeks for a continuous harvest throughout summer.
- Mulch around established tomato and pepper plants to retain moisture as soil temperatures rise.
- Prune dead or diseased foliage from Brassicas like Brussels Sprouts and Kale to improve air circulation.
Pest & disease watch
- Monitor for Colorado Potato Beetles on your Tomato, Pepper, and Eggplant crops as adults become active with the warming weather.
- Watch closely for aphids clustering on the tender new growth of Sunflowers and Zinnia in our dry conditions.
- Check Brassica neighbors like Brussels Sprouts and Cleome for early signs of flea beetles feeding holes.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to encourage strong root growth while minimizing fungal disease risk.
Pinch back the tips of young Bush Bean plants if they are leggy to encourage bushier, more productive growth.
Colorado Springs gardening questions
3Is it safe to plant my Zucchini seeds directly into the ground this week?
Yes, but only if your soil feels warm to the touch; the April 21 frost date is an average, and a late cold snap in the Pikes Peak region can still occur. Cover new seedlings immediately with row fabric until the heat sets in.
Can I finally pull my Garlic plants or should they stay in the ground?
Keep your Garlic planted now; this is the ideal time for roots to establish before the winter freeze, and pulling them would damage the bulb structure. If you have already harvested early varieties like the ones listed for soon, ensure you cure them away from direct wind.
My Tomato plants look wilted in the afternoon sun—is this normal?
This is likely heat stress common to our high elevation, but check that the soil isn't drying out too fast. Water deeply at the base of the Beefsteak and Roma Tomato plants during the cooler evening hours to rehydrate them.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Colorado Springs garden in SproutGuide →