Western Mountains and High Plains
September, 2006
Regional Report
Recycle Garden Waste
As the frost arrives and kills back the annual vegetation, collect these materials and recycle to the compost pile. Any weeds with maturing seed heads should be tossed as the seeds will remain viable and haunt your garden next year.
Take Cuttings of Colorful Coleus
Before the frost kills back the entire plant, take cuttings from your favorite coleus plants. These will make wonderful houseplants this winter. Dip the cut ends in a solution of liquid hormone. Stick the cuttings in moistened vermiculite and place in bright light. When rooted, pot up in good potting soil and grow in a sunny window.
Don't Harvest Grapes Too Early
For the sweetest grapes, leave the fruit clusters on the vine until they are ripe and sweet. Grapes don't ripen well after harvesting. If wasps are digging into the fruit, cover the clusters of grapes with paper bags. This will also deter raccoons and deer.
Scatter Poppy and Larkspur Seeds
Now is a great time to disperse poppy and larkspur seeds on the soft ground. The larkspur will germinate into tiny rosettes of foliage and overwinter just fine, ready to grow in the spring. The poppy seeds will germinate next spring.
Save Seeds
Collect seeds from some of your favorite vegetables and flowers. Dried seeds can be stored in paper envelopes where you can write down notes including growing conditions, color, and other tidbits of information. Note the year of collection.
