|
|
 |
Fall Frost Protection In Your Garden
(HIT) - As warm days begin to yield to cooler evenings, cool-weather vegetables (lettuce, spinach, etc.) and flowers begin to thrive. But many plants will need protection against cold nighttime weather.
A light freeze, from 29°F to 32°F, will kill tender plants but will have little destructive effect on other vegetation. A moderate freeze, from 25°F to 28°F, will have a widely destructive effect on most vegetation, with heavy damage to fruit blossoms and tender and semi-hardy plants. A severe freeze, 24°F and colder, with result in damage to most plants.
Here are a few steps from the folks at www.earthbox.com that you can use to protect your tender plants against freezing temperatures to extend your growing season:
- Find out the average first frost dates for your area. You can type in your zip code and get helpful info here: http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/
- Have an outdoor thermometer handy, and check it often.
- Check weather reports for forecasts of low temperatures.
- Water the soil around your plants; moist soil retains heat better. DO NOT spray water on the plants themselves.
- Cover your plants overnight. There are many good, lightweight plant covers available, including a nice one that protects plants in EarthBoxes. http://store.earthbox.com/Frost-Cover/productinfo/1010061/
- Remove the covers during the day if it is warm and sunny.
Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center
|
|
|
|
