For example, plants that are cold hardy in zones 4 through 7 can survive in temperatures between -20☏ and 0☏ (-34☌ – -12☌). To know what temperatures individual plants and vegetables freeze at, check the plant’s hardiness zone. Related reading: The best winter vegetables to grow in your garden. But there are cold-hardy vegetables and plants can survive when temperatures fall to 18☏ (-7.7☌). Some tender annuals and seedlings suffer frost damage when temperatures drop to 32☏ (0☌). However, freezing conditions affect plants differently. Typically, most plants freeze when the air temperature drops below 28☏ (-2☌) for at least five hours. Also, covers act as an insulator, keeping the ground just above the freezing point when frost occurs. Therefore, frost doesn’t form on plant leaves, and your plants are protected. For example, simple frost covers protect many plants because they don’t allow water vapor to fall on foliage. Knowing how frost develops is key to protecting your plants from freezing conditions. Frost can destroy many plants, and severe hard frosts can cause root vegetables to freeze in the ground. Because the sun generally warms the ground, frost typically happens at night. Typically, frost occurs when the ground temperature is at the freezing point – 32☏ (0☌). Surface frost looks like a thin dusting of fine sugar on the ground and plant surfaces. Frost-damage in plants looks like they have limp, black, and shriveled leaves. In plants, frost damage occurs when low temperatures cause water in plant cells to freeze. What Is Frost?Ī close up picture of a flower covered in a thin layer of iceįrost is a thin layer of ice crystals that occur when water vapor in the air forms as ice on freezing surfaces near the ground. In addition to practical ways to protect gardens from frost, you’ll find out about the best frost covers for plants. This article is a complete guide to protecting your vegetables, flowers, seedlings, fruit trees, and shrubs from frost damage. For many potted plants, bringing them indoors is the only way to protect the plants from frost. Other types of protective plant cover include cloches, mulch, blankets, or special frost covers for plants. Sometimes a simple frost cover for plants is enough to protect tender growth. And with changing weather patterns, surprise frosts when you don’t expect them are becoming more common. Also, a sudden change in fall weather can cause a hard frost on the ground. Warm sunny spring days can suddenly drop below 32☏ (0☌) when the sun goes down. Even when you expect temperatures to drop significantly, being prepared to protect plants from freezing conditions will help save your plants from the ravages of cold weather.įrost protection for plants is usually necessary from late evening until early morning in early spring. An unexpected freeze can kill tender seedlings, damage roots, and ruin plant foliage.
Protecting plants from frost in early spring and late fall is vital for all gardeners. Email Pinterest Facebook Twitter Linkedin