Killer Frost - (not the superhero)
Killer frost might be a fictional superhero, but when it comes to gardening it’s for real!
Some people might think that going by their zone number is enough…it is not when it comes to gardening. The zone gives you a good idea of what plants will hold up in your area and for how long, but your frost dates are more important to a healthy harvest.
I recently posted about big box stores setting out their tomato and pepper plants (you can find that post here) and how it is too early for those plants. Our last frost date (ie last winter frost) is not until the beginning of April. Our southern weather can be a tricky thing. Often we find ourselves in t-shirts and shorts one week and coats and pants the next! Although our nights have been mild lately, the temperature is likely to dip again in the evenings (I saw 29 degrees for one night), meaning KILLER FROST.
A lot of our warm season crops will die if exposed to temperatures less than 50 degrees. Therefore, paying attention to your frost dates (last and first), plays a vital role in your harvest. Plant too early and your plants are likely to die or receive frost damage. Plant too late and you likely will not harvest that particular crop.
So here’s a couple of tips for planting:
Our last frost date is the beginning of April. Our first frost date is late October. This leaves us with about 215 growing days.
Look at the plants you want to harvest and count the days it takes to harvest (or “days to maturity”). Does it have enough time to mature between those days? Can it handle the temperatures within that time period?
If you have already planted your warm weather crops, pay attention to the weather. If you see the temperatures are too cool in the evenings or there is danger of frost, take bed sheets, drop cloths, blankets, or plastic and tuck them in for the night! (Make sure to remove the cover the next day.)
Remember we have cool, warm, and hot seasons here. What you plant can leave you feeling like a plant master or plant disaster!
If this makes no sense to you or feel you have always had a black thumb, head on over to my store and purchase a consultation. Our goal is to teach EVERY ONE that NO ONE has a black thumb!
