{"id":8429,"date":"2026-10-07T12:50:54","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T18:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/?p=8429&#038;preview=true&#038;preview_id=8429"},"modified":"2026-10-07T13:42:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:42:28","slug":"pea-patch-dispatch-october-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/2026\/10\/07\/pea-patch-dispatch-october-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Pea Patch Dispatch: October 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group c-breadcrumbs alignfull is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><nav aria-label=\"breadcrumbs\" class=\"rank-math-breadcrumb\"><p><span class=\"last\">Home<\/span><\/p><\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ffae927d wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Putting the Garden to Bed<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Pumpkins-and-Squash.jpg?w=768\" alt=\"Pumpkins and squash sit on the grass\" class=\"wp-image-8427\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.5024025235667389;width:350px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Pumpkins-and-Squash.jpg 768w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Pumpkins-and-Squash.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Pumpkins-and-Squash.jpg?resize=600,338 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hard to believe, it\u2019s that time of year again. Our plants have given us their best over the season and with the first chilling night, they\u2019re past their prime. With some prudent clean-up this fall, we can help prevent disease and insect problems in the Pea Patch next year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Remove all stems, vines, leaves and other litter from the garden after final harvest. This will reduce hiding places for insect pests, like squash bugs, thrips and flea beetles, and can keep diseases, such as powdery mildew and tomato spotted wilt, from building up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t forget to dispose of any diseased or bug-infested perennial weeds like bindweed, mallow and nightshade, too. If left behind, they can be the source of reinfections next year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fall is a great time to till or cultivate the garden and add composted organic matter. You could even add some chopped up leaves from your trees. Cultivating in fall can also expose clusters of grasshopper eggs helping reduce next year\u2019s population.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-accent-5-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Our gardening community has donated nearly 1,580 lbs of fresh veggies to our food bank partners. Thank you!<\/strong> <br><br><strong>Donation pick ups continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays by 10:00 AM and Sundays by 1:00 PM until the garden has nothing left to give.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Collecting Seed from Your Garden<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"690\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Green bean seeds harvested from a home garden on the Front Range. \" class=\"wp-image-8433\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.239714648685625;object-fit:contain;width:385px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg 2468w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=300,202 300w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=768,518 768w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=1024,690 1024w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=1536,1036 1536w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=2048,1381 2048w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=2000,1348 2000w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=1400,944 1400w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=600,405 600w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Green-Beans-Seeds-edited.jpg?resize=1568,1057 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For those who would like to try saving seed from your garden \u2014 or maybe you already do \u2014 there are a few things to consider so you aren\u2019t surprised or disappointed by the veggies you get next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Vegetable seeds come in two forms: open-pollinated and hybrid varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open-pollinated varieties are either self- or cross-pollinated and usually grow back true to type when the seeds are replanted. \u201cHeirloom\u201d varieties are open-pollinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hybrid varieties are controlled crosses of closely related but genetically different plants designed to enhance features like disease resistance, increased vigor and increased yield. Hybrid seed packets are almost always designated \u201cF-1,&#8221; \u201cF-1 Hybrid\u201d or \u201cHybrid.&#8221; Crossing two hybrid plants, which pollinators and the wind can do, often produces either sterile seed or seed that won\u2019t grow into plants that are true to type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The upshot of all of this is you\u2019ll get the most reliable results when collecting seed from open-pollinated vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatillos and legumes. Some that don\u2019t yield good results are corn and curcubits like cucumbers, squash, melons and pumpkins because they so readily cross-pollinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few simple tips for harvesting seed from most vegetables:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Harvest seeds when the vegetable is fully mature but not rotten.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Separate the seeds from the flesh or pulp and let them air dry on wax paper or a wax-coated paper plate for&nbsp; several days. Keep out of direct sunlight in a place with low humidity (humidity in Colorado is generally low enough that that you won\u2019t need to use a seed drier but it could speed up the process).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once the seed is clean and dry, store it in a paper envelope and seal in a plastic bag. Don\u2019t forget to label it with the variety and date collected. Seeds can also be frozen in airtight containers so the moisture in the freezer doesn\u2019t affect the moisture content of the seeds.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interested in learning more? This <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/resource\/saving-seed\/\">article<\/a> from CSU Extension explains more about how to save seeds and includes a handy table showing how vegetables are pollinated so you know which is which.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-default wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This is our last edition of the season. We hope you enjoyed the Pea Patch Dispatch. Are there topics or questions you\u2019d like us to cover next year? Please send your thoughts and suggestions to <a href=\"mailto:cmgppatch@gmail.com\">cmgppatch@gmail.com<\/a>. See you next spring! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:18px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2\" style=\"min-height:389px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"510\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-406 size-full\" alt=\"A person harvests vegetables from a garden, holding a bowl filled with tomatoes, okra, cucumbers, and peppers beside a plant with small green tomatoes.\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/06\/Garden-Vegetables-in-Bowl.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/06\/Garden-Vegetables-in-Bowl.jpg 768w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/06\/Garden-Vegetables-in-Bowl.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/06\/Garden-Vegetables-in-Bowl.jpg?resize=600,398 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-black-background-color has-background-dim-40 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-2098a6fa wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-26f784d3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">Get the latest news and hot topics for gardeners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Subscribe to&nbsp; Arapahoe Extension\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/topics\/gardening-horticulture\/garden-buzz-newsletter\/\">Garden Buzz newsletter<\/a> and get up-to-date information delivered to your inbox all year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-6ae93978 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a tabindex=\"0\" class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-background-color has-background wp-element-button\">Subscribe today<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Putting the Garden to Bed Hard to believe, it\u2019s that time of year again. Our plants have given us their best over the season and with the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":8427,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"class_list":["post-8429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","pp_force_visibility":null,"pp_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_force_visibility":null,"pp_inherited_subpost_visibility":null,"pp_post_mime_type":"","acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2026\/10\/Pumpkins-and-Squash.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8429"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8447,"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8429\/revisions\/8447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.colostate.edu\/arapahoe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}