Falling for the Garden
September Recap and October Forecast
September wrapped up with our Monthly Maintenance event, where members came together to tidy the space and keep the garden thriving. We also held elections for our 2026 officers—thank you to those who have stepped up to serve and help guide our garden into the future.
As we move into October, the 2025 growing season enters its final stretch. Long-season crops like watermelons and pumpkins are ripening, signaling that harvest time is here. With cooler days ahead, our event schedule will slow down, giving gardeners a chance to savor the last weeks of the season and prepare for the first frost.
A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who showed up, shared their talents, and supported the garden throughout the year. Together, we’ve made this a vibrant, welcoming space for our whole community.
Upcoming Events
Garden Cleanup and Winter Prep
Saturday, November 1st
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Mid Shooks Run Community garden
October Announcements
Don’t Forget: October 31st is the last day of the growing season
October 31st marks the official end of our 2025 growing season. This is the last month of official garden activity—but if you’d like to keep tending your plot after this date, that’s wonderful!
Just be sure to reach out to us and let us know so we don’t mistake your setup for abandoned crops or infrastructure. A quick note helps us keep the garden organized as we transition into the off-season.
Tear it Down and Pack it Out - End of Season Cleanup
As the growing season comes to a close, please take time to leave your plot in the same—if not better—condition than when you found it. At the end of the season, only perennials (if you have them) should remain, and they should be trimmed and maintained so they look neat and intentional.
All other materials need to be removed and taken home. This includes stakes, strings, poles, tomato cages, Wall-o-Waters, and any other items that could easily blow away. Please don’t leave these behind—let’s avoid adding to the tomato cage graveyard!
Be sure to pack out your trash and compost as well. Do not pile garden waste in shared areas. If you’ve been maintaining a compost pile outside your plot, either incorporate that material back into your soil or take it home with you. If you borrowed a container from the garden to hold compost, please return it to the greenhouse for winter storage.
End of Season Cleanup Checklist
Make sure your plot is ready for winter!
Clear and amend your plot:
Remove all annuals.
Incorporate any compost into your soil or take it home.
Azomite and winter cover crop seeds are in the greenhouse
Cover the soil with straw
Take home materials:
Stakes | strings | poles | Tomato cages
Any other loose or lightweight items
Pack out waste including trash and garden debris.
Return any borrowed materials to the greenhouse for winter storage.
Final check: your plot should look clean, safe, and ready for next spring.
Planned Water Shutoff
Our irrigation system will be winterized in mid-October by the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Trails, and Open Spaces team. This process involves draining and blowing out the lines to prevent freeze damage over the winter.
Once this happens, garden hydrants will remain off until April or May of 2026 when the system is restarted for the new growing season.
Please note: If we experience an early freeze, water service may need to be shut off before October 15th, so plan your watering accordingly.
2026 Board of Directors and Officer Election Results
Please thank the Board of Directors and 2026 Officers for volunteering to serve Mid Shooks Run Community Garden:
Cathy Clarke – Director
John Kostek – Secretary
Alo McGarigol – Director
Cindy Van Seeters – Vice Chair
Amanda Stewart – Chair/Treasurer
Leadership in our garden is bigger than the board—it’s a community effort. If you would like to be more involved in shaping the garden’s direction, consider serving on a 2026 committee.
In Season at the Perennial Beds: September Edition
At Mid Shooks Run Community Garden, you can find an abundance of vibrant blooms and foliage that thrive year after year. Here’s what you’ll find ready to harvest in July in our perennial beds:
A variety of flowers. These hardy perennials provide a colorful display while attracting beneficial pollinators to the garden.
Herbs like thyme, marjoram, lavender, lemon balm, tarragon, and sage are flourishing, ready to be harvested for culinary and aromatic purposes. Check out the south-west corner of our perennial beds, which community gardeners can help themselves to!
Tomatoes. Six prolific, compact tomato plants are nestled alongside our artichoke plants in the 2’x6’ experimental beds. There are two each of Patio Hybrid (medium-sized, red fruits) , Patio Choice Yellow Hybrid (yellow cherries), and Fantastico Hybrid (mini plum fruits). Enjoy!
Walking Onions. Walking onions can be harvested throughout the season. In August, the bulbets make a great shallot substitute. You can also harvest the bulbets to plant in the fall so that you have your own crop of walking onions next spring.
Winter Squash. Look for spaghetti and acorn squash growing on the garden’s east fence. To tell if they’re ready, press your thumbnail gently into the rind. If it resists puncture and feels hard, it’s mature. If your nail easily makes a dent, it needs more time. The stem should also be dry and starting to shrivel, not green and fleshy.
Happy Gardening!
