KGE

Welcome Spring!

KGE

In my many years of gardening, I’ve often found that reflection on the past gardening season ALWAYS helps with my gardening of the future!

Here are the benefits of reflection:

Learning Through Success and Failure:

Taking a moment to look back, whether at successes or shortcomings, offers a valuable learning lesson. There is definitely a high level of satisfaction and achievement when you grow something… you remember it! Similarly, assessing challenges or failures grants an opportunity to steer clear of repeating those same mistakes in the following year.

Reflection assists in setting realistic and achievable goals for the future. By assessing what was accomplished and what fell short in the past, you can set more informed and targeted goals for the upcoming season.

From our home to yours!!!

Dr. Laura Christine and Family

KGE

NOV ~ 2023

As I write this blog, we’ve just experienced our first overnight cooler weather. We didn’t get down to freezing but we were close! Close enough for me! Whether you have a fall garden growing, like me, or you have a perennial garden, it is important to prepare and protect

your plants from frost.

what is frost?

Know Your Frost Dates

The benefit of being aware of the first frost date, for your area, will give you time to make the decisions that will put into place protective measures such as covering plants or moving sensitive plants indoors to prevent damage.

One of my favorite resources for this information is The National Gardening Association.

Click here

Different Types of Frost

Frost comes in three main types. All of them can harm plants, from a little damage to ruining them completely. Knowing these types helps you use the right protection for

your plants.

Sudden Early Frost Damage

Be aware that when there is an early frost that is unexpected (sudden), plants haven’t had the time to adjust! The drop in temperatures shocks plants because they haven’t

gone into dormancy, yet. Plants in containers are more susceptible because of the

fluctuations in the soil temperature.

Know Your Plants

Knowing the tolerance levels of your plants enables you to protect them effectively.

Plants to Cover with a light frost;

Basil, beans, corn, cucumber, eggplant, ground cherry, melons, okra, peppers potatoes, pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatillos, tomatoes

Semi-Hardy Plants that can tolerate light or short term freeze (28℉-32℉)

Beets, carrots, cauliflower, chard, chives, garlic, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, radish, spinach, strawberries

(blooms damaged at 28 degrees and below)

Cold Hardy Plants that can withstand moderate temps of 24℉ to 28 ℉ (They get sweeter in the cold!)

Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, parsnip, turnip

What about Citrus?

Lemon and Lime are very sensitive - suffer damage at 32 ℉

Grapefruit and orange can tolerant mid 20s℉

Kumquat and mandarin are the most cold hardy and can tolerate 18℉ to 20℉

Monitor Weather Forecasts: Keep an eye on weather forecasts for your area. Frost is most likely to occur on clear, calm nights when the temperature drops significantly. Stay informed so you can take action in advance. Local news and weather apps work well!

Know Your Frost Dates: Understand the average first frost date for your region. This information can help you plan when to start preparing your garden for colder temperatures.

Choose Frost-Tolerant Plants: When selecting plants for your garden, consider choosing those that are more tolerant of cold temperatures. This will reduce the impact of frost on your garden.

Mulching

Apply a layer of mulch around the base of your plants. Mulch helps insulate the soil, retaining heat and protecting the roots of your plants from freezing.

Compost

Well-rotted compost can be used as a mulch, improving soil structure and fertility as it breaks down.

Watering

Water the soil thoroughly before a frost. Water before the sun goes down. Cover plants before sun down. Cover all the way down to the ground to hold in the heat. Moist soil retains heat better than dry soil, which can help protect plant roots from freezing. However, don't water foliage as wet leaves can be more susceptible to frost damage.

Protecting plants from frost involves using various coverings to create a barrier between

the plants and the cold air. Here are several types of coverings that can be used to

protect plants from frost:

Frost Blankets or Floating Row Covers: These lightweight fabric covers are specifically designed to protect plants from frost while allowing light and moisture to pass through. They can be laid directly on plants or suspended using supports like hoops. Frost blankets come in various thicknesses for different levels of protection - need to be removed during the day after a frost event

Cloches: Cloches are individual protective covers that can be placed over individual plants. They can be made of glass, plastic, or even translucent fabric. Cloches create a microclimate around the plant, trapping heat and providing protection from frost.

Old Bedsheets or Blankets: Reusing old bed sheets, blankets, or other similar fabrics can be an effective and inexpensive way to cover plants during a frost event. Secure fabric to ground to prevent blowing away and remove when sun comes up and temp is above 32℉.

Tarps or Plastic Sheets: Plastic sheets or tarps can be used to cover larger areas or rows of plants. However, it's important to ensure that the plastic doesn't come into direct contact with the plants, as it can transmit cold temperatures.

Plant Supports and Hardscape: Sometimes, using nearby structures like fences, walls, or other sturdy supports can create a protective barrier against cold winds and frost.

Cold Frames and Hoop Houses: If you have larger plants or a garden bed, cold frames or hoop houses can offer more substantial protection. These structures are designed to capture sunlight and heat during the day and retain it during the night.

Bring Potted Plants Indoors: Tender plants in containers should be brought indoors or placed in a sheltered location, like a garage or porch, during cold nights.

Best time to take off covering:

As soon as the sun comes up and the temperature rises above 32 degrees

Trapping heat during day could cause plants to come out of dormancy and cause extra damage to the plant

Covers on at sundown!

Until next time, have a

fantastic gardening day!

~Laura

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