Frost Tolerance

Thought I would share some good info sent to me from High Mowing Organic Seeds

If you hear that a frost is on the way, even a light one, you should harvest all your “frost-tender” crops such as:

• cucumbers,
  
• peppers,
  
• tomatoes,
  
• summer squash,
  
• eggplant,
  
• melons and
  
• okra.
  

If the temperature is not going to go below 30 F, you can cover the above mentioned plants with burlap sacks, buckets, baskets, floating row covers, or blankets supported by stakes. This will allow the immature fruit to ripen in the remaining warm days.

Colder temperatures (26-31F) may burn the foliage of, but will not kill, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, lettuce, mustard, onion, radish, beets and leeks. In fact, some of these crops, as well as parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes and brussels sprouts actually produce the best flavor when they have had a touch of frost!

For gardeners located in warmer climates, you may find that crops such as spinach, lettuce, parsnips, carrots, parsley, kale and leeks may survive all winter long. To help these plants overwinter, make sure to mulch them. (You can read more about mulching in Winter Mulches for Vegetable Gardens by Barbara Pleasant, or read about a variety of mulches to use from the University of Georgia’s Extension office – Mulching Vegetables.) Most of these vegetables can be harvested throughout the winter.

Shannon,
This is a great article.
Thank you!

I don't know how I missed this the first time around, but it is great information. Thanks, Shannon!

This is my first time to have a fall garden, so this will be very helpful!