Spring Frost : How To Protect Plants from Frost

Common  planting guideline suggests to start planting directly outdoors  after Mother’s day, but unfortunately that doesn’t rule out occasional frost, even in May. So far this  gardening year has been unusually cold, although if you remember last year we had an unexpectedly late frost as well and many farmers lost their vegetables.  Fruit Orchards lost some of  their seasonal peach produce due to  the peach flower  frost bite.

As a gardener you need to follow weather forecast, especially  temperatures around  4am to 6am,  when the temperatures are at their lowest. Tomatoes, beans, peppers are sensitive to cold as well as many flowers, herbs and fruit trees.

 

For a short term frost protection you can use large plastic bins, glass jars to cover your plants or if you have a larger crop  or long rows you can also use plastic cover. Plastic covers are cheap and can be purchased in a painting department at your local hardware store. Prop the sheets up so they are not touching the plants, they should be loosely fitting over the plants, use stakes to support the sheet up.

Next day, after the frosty night/morning has passed, lift the sheets and other coverings away from plants,  you don’t want your plants to “simmer”, they can get  easily overheated especially if  it is sunny out.

 

Also remember if you have a plants in the containers, they are  extremely susceptible to frost, their roots are unprotected. Make sure you protect these plants as well. You can take them inside, or to your garage, or cover them like I suggested.