Keeping the garden free from frost

Anxious farmers in the fruit-growing regions of the Great Lakes, Northeast and even parts of the South kept misters, smudge pots and helicopters in their arsenals last night as a cold front approached from Canada, threatening to freeze trees and vines overnight that had budded early amid record-setting warmth.

Not everyone, of course, has vineyards and orchards, but for those who do have a garden — but no budget for a helicopter — here are some tips to keep the fruits and vegetables safe from frost, whether it's early or late.

Plant Selection

• Select frost tolerant plants.

Plant Placement

• Place frost sensitive plants in sheltered locations.
• Western and southern exposures tend to be warmest.
• Block walls, rocks and patios collect and reflect the heat of the sun.
• Full sun is warmer than shaded locations (though night temperatures, the cause of most frost damage, will be impacted by other factors)
• Place frost-tolerant plants that may blossom too early and thus risk flower and fruit damage in cold spots to prevent a premature break of dormancy.

Plant Care

• Keep plants well watered. Frost injury occurs when ice crystals form on the leaf surface drawing moisture from the leaf tissue. The damage from this dehydration will be less severe if the plant is not already drought-stressed.
• Firm, bare, moist soil absorbs more heat and loses it more rapidly than soil that is loose, dry, or covered with mulch or vegetation.
• Manage your irrigation carefully, keeping the moisture level as even as possible.
• There are other products marketed to protect plants from frost damage. Read the label carefully.
• Don’t over protect! Plants are more frost resistant if kept hardened to cold weather.

Reduce Heat Loss

• Cover plants with cloth or paper (not plastic) to insulate. You can use sheets or blankets for minimal protection or use a frost cloth. A properly applied frost cloth can protect plants at temperatures down to 30 degrees, some down as low as 20 degrees depending on the fabric and the weave.
• Completely drape the plant from top all the way to the ground. Do not allow any openings for warmth to escape. This procedure will trap the heat radiating from the soil and maintain a more humid atmosphere around the plant foliage. Optimally, the drape will be supported by frame which does not allow it to touch the foliage. DO NOT gather the drape around the trunk of the tree. The goal is to trap and utilize heat from the immediate heat being radiated from the ground, so ensure that the drape touches the ground

Learn more in the Tuesday, March 27, News-Banner.