Aiding Annuals Through the Frost

In Scarlett’s Garden, we take steps to avoid frost damage, working to keep our plants frost free throughout the winter months, on the North East coast. We find this helpful (and in the case of veggie plants, essential) to ensure annual plants remain healthy and ready for the coming spring.

Whats the point of covering plants from frost?

Consistent exposure to winter frost can potentially provide a high chance of your annuals not making it to spring.

How to protect your annuals from frost damage?

Look into investing in some “row covers” at your local garden store. However, keep in mind there is no need to spend excessive amounts on frost protections. Gardeners have even chosen to use old sheets or pillow cases for covering larger plants in the winter to avoid the frost. Whichever option or material you chose, note that the covers should closely cover the plants. While the covers should help trap heat, the covers should not be wrapped too tightly around the plants.

What is the best time to add frost protection to plants?

Consider adding your choice of frost protection to your plants in the evenings when the temperature drops after dusk. Next, remove the protective layers when the temperatures rise the following day, preferably in the early afternoon, so that your plants still get sunlight, even when dormant.

How can gardeners predict frost in their area?

Keep an eye on the Farmer’s Almanac guide for predicting frost (the almanac even provides a frost date calculator for local average frost temperatures in your area!) We have added the link here to the Farmer’s Almanac for our gardeners’ reference: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates