Cover Plants In a Freeze. Here's How.

by Jenn Smith November 20, 2019

Gardening in the cooler seasons is much different than gardening in the warmer months of the year. While hot seasons require loads of watering, fall and winter gardening requires cover for insulation and protection from frost (when air temperatures dive below freezing). Keeping plants warm is the main goal in the fall and winter seasons.

Some plants that will require extra care include: geraniums, begonias, impatiens, peppers, and tomatoes. Row covers, are lightweight spun fabric pieces that are used to protect plants from frost in the nighttime and keep the ground warm. Burlap is another fabric often used to cover crops during cold weather. It is suggested to cover cold sensitive plants when night time lows are expected to dip below 20 degrees F. Cover vegetable crops when temperatures are predicted to fall below the mid 20s.

Some plants can be transplanted indoors or within a cold frame until spring. If winter gardening is of interest, there are plenty of edible plants that can be grown in the cool months that are tolerant of cooler temperatures including:

broccoli
cabbage
calendula (pot marigold)
carrots
chives
lettuce
leeks
peas
radish
spinach
Swiss chard

These plants will need to be protected from wildlife browsing (typically through deer fencing and deer repellents this time of year) and cared for by gardeners. Do not neglect plants and forget to water them at least every 2-4 weeks. They will require water when the roots are dry and will need fresh soil.