Protecting plants
Use sheets or light-weight blankets to protect plants from frost.
Amy Andrychowicz
Posted: Tuesday, September 4, 2012 4:30 pm
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Updated: 4:38 pm, Tue Sep 4, 2012.
Chanhassen Villager
Now that Labor Day is over and the kids are back in school, the weather will start to turn cooler. Soon we will have to worry about protecting tender garden plants from frost.
Our average first frost date is around Sept. 20, which means it’s time to pay closer attention to the forecast and keep an eye on the overnight lows. Frost can occur anytime the temperature drops below 40 degrees on a clear, windless night.
The first few frosts aren’t usually “killing frosts,” but even a light frost is enough to ruin sensitive plants and vegetable crops. Taking the time to protect tender plants from these early frosts can extend the growing season by a few weeks.
The most important plants to protect are sensitive annuals, potted plants and warm weather vegetables. Warm weather vegetables include plants like tomatoes, beans, peppers, squash, corn, cucumbers and herbs.
Cold weather vegetables like peas, lettuce, spinach, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and others in the cabbage family, are frost tolerant and won’t be harmed by light frost.
Sensitive plants can be protected by covering them with some type of fabric. It’s best to use a lightweight fabric so it doesn’t weigh down the plants; I prefer using bed sheets. I’ve also used towels and light blankets when there weren’t enough sheets to cover everything.
The best way to cover the plants is to drape the fabric over them, and allow it to pool loosely on the ground around the base of the plant. The fabric will protect the plants from frost by holding in the heat that rises from the soil. I use clothes pins to hold the sheets closed so they won’t blow off if there’s any wind.
Here are some other tips for protecting plants from frost:
- Do not wrap the plant like a Tootsie Pop sucker; where the fabric only goes over the foliage, and then you seal it around the stem or base of the plant. This won’t protect the plant very well.
- Do not use plastic to cover the plants. Plastic traps more moisture than fabric and can cause more harm than good. If you must use plastic, use a support to make a tent over the top of the plants. Any part of the plant that’s touching the plastic will freeze.
- Bring potted plants into a porch, shed or garage overnight. You could cover them, but sometimes moving them is easier.
- Uncover the plants in the morning immediately after the threat of frost has passed. This is usually soon after the sun hits the area. Leaving plants covered too long in the sun can cause damage by overheating the plants.
- It’s easiest to cover your plants before it gets dark in the evening, but don’t worry if you don’t get your plants covered until after dark. The chance of frost is highest in the early morning.
- If a frost is predicted, water the garden well during the day. The water in the soil will heat up in the sun, keeping the covered plants warmer overnight.
Covering plants can be a lot of work, but it’s worth the effort to protect tender plants from frost. So if it seems the conditions are just right for frost, take the time to protect your plants; it’s better to be safe than sorry. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for a frost-free September.
Amy Andrychowicz writes about gardening and is a Savage resident. She spends her spare time gardening, indoors and out. She also blogs at www.getbusygardening.com. You can email her at getbusygardening@gmail.com.
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012 4:30 pm.
Updated: 4:38 pm.
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