Frost Protection

We had not anticipated having to protect our tender garden plants from frost on May 15. Our last frost date used to be May 15, but in recent years our zone has changed from 5 to 6 with a last frost date of April 15. Nonetheless, yesterday’s weather forecast called for night temperatures dipping to 32º F. That is enough to kill tender plants such as potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes.

Late in the afternoon Dennis unearthed our row covers from the barn and broke open a couple of straw bales. He started with the potatoes.

He stretched row covers over the plants and topped them with loose straw. He also put bricks on top of the old coffee cans that shelter the young pepper plants.

Next he scattered straw liberally over the young tomato plants after removing their cages. He hadn't yet protected the ones still in cages at the right when he took this photo.

He threw an old blanket over the stock tank where he had just planted a Sun Gold tomato.

That’s all that was needed. Broccoli, peas, onions, shallots, and garlic are frost hardy.

As it turned out, we thought that only people who live in town had frost. We didn’t see any out here in the hills, but, when Dennis uncovered things this morning, he found the top two inches of the tomatoes were frost-bitten. Because the tomatoes are about a foot tall, they will recover. If Dennis hadn't protected the tender plants, they all would have been ruined.

Copyright 2014 by Shirley Domer