What to plant this week in Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs gardeners are currently in the thick of mid-summer heat, with many warm-season crops like okra and watermelon ready for harvest while others finish ripening. This week's focus is on protecting late-planted beans from the city's intense afternoon sun and managing moisture during our typical summer dry spells.
The next 7 days
Colorado Springs, COGrowing in Colorado Springs right now
- The Pikes Peak inversion layer can trap cold air in low-lying areas, so check your microclimate carefully when transplanting sensitive varieties like Lisianthus or Malabar Spinach.
- Our unique high-elevation soil tends to drain quickly; apply extra organic matter around thirsty crops like honeydew melon and summer squash to retain moisture during dry stretches.
- The hot, dry winds common in this valley can scorch young leaves on bush beans and cucumbers; provide afternoon shade cloth if temperatures spike above 95°F.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
41 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans and sweet corn every two weeks for continuous harvests through summer.
- Pinch back the tops of zucchini and squash plants now to encourage more fruit development rather than just vines.
- Cut back dying foliage on basil and borage after heavy harvesting to promote a second, smaller flush of growth.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites are proliferating rapidly in the dry heat, especially targeting zinnias and cosmos near the city center.
- Late-season aphids often cluster on the new growth of pole beans and sweet corn as the season winds down.
- Slugs remain active at night during cool mornings but may retreat as temperatures rise; monitor French marigolds for egg-laying snails.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the early morning to reduce evaporation while supporting heavy fruit production on melons and squash.
Pull any volunteer weeds immediately around your transplants like edamame and fennel before they compete for nutrients.
Colorado Springs gardening questions
3Is it safe to transplant dahlia tubers this week in Colorado Springs?
Yes, you can dig and divide your dahlia tubers now since the soil is warm enough to establish roots before the first frost on October 17. Be sure to replant them immediately after digging to avoid desiccation from our dry winds.
Which of my summer crops are ready to harvest right now?
You can pull your bush beans, edamame, and Thai basil today for peak flavor, while cantaloupe and watermelon will likely be ready in the next few days if they have ripened on the vine.
How do I protect my garlic crop from bolting or heat stress?
Your garlic is still hardening off; ensure consistent watering to prevent bulb splitting but avoid over-saturating the soil which can encourage fungal issues in our semi-arid climate.
Other cities in zone 6a
12See the full zone 6a guide → · Plan your Colorado Springs garden in SproutGuide →