Keeping the vegetable garden productive through the colder months is possible with the right protection.
As if shorter days and colder temperatures weren’t enough, putting the garden to bed until next spring can send one into instant Seasonal Affective Disorder. But what if there was a way to keep things growing? There’s a solution for every growing zone, from row covers, cold frames, affordable walk-in greenhouses, old sheets for those lucky enough to live far enough south, and more.
Let’s explore.
Frost Blankets
Frost occurs when moisture and humidity are just right to form tiny ice crystals on leaves, flowers, and vegetables. It typically occurs when temperatures are above freezing. In fact, the National Weather Service typically issues a frost advisory when temperatures of 33 to 36 degrees F are forecast. For areas with temperate winters and occasional frost warnings, old sheets, bedspreads, and even cardboard boxes will all provide varying degrees of protection. Make sure they don’t touch the plants, or they can act as a conduit to the cold. Never use plastic because most of it is too thin to make any real difference, it retains cold moisture, and it doesn’t allow the plants to breathe.
