Heavy winds that buffeted the Front Range on Wednesday set the table for a freeze warning tonight into Friday morning.
“It will be about 30 degrees, so the tomatoes and all that stuff out there, people will need to bring in or cover up,” said Scott Entrekin, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.
High winds Wednesday afternoon stirred up so much dust that stretches of Interstate 70 east of Denver were closed because of poor visibility.
Clearing skies and colder weather rode in on those winds. Snow is expected in the mountains through this morning, with totals reaching 4 to 8 inches, the Weather Service said.
Along the Front Range, the overnight chill signals the last of the summer harvest is near.
Judy Elliott, education and community empowerment coordinator of Denver Urban Gardens, said she’s advising all her gardeners to harvest eggplant, peppers and tomatoes right now — even if the tomatoes are still green.
“Nutritionally, tomatoes that ripen indoors are far superior to those that ripen in the garden till the last day,” she said.
For people who absolutely must push the season, she recommends getting lightweight frost blankets, sold at nurseries, that are made of spun polyester and offer various degrees of frost protection.
Otherwise, move on, she said.
“Harvest as much as you can,” she said, “and work on your soil improvement for next year.”
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
