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 Plant Protection from Frost
By Carol O'Meara, Master Gardener, Colorado State University
Cooler nights and moist air are combining to bring heavy dew our way. It won't be long before frost nips our plants, signaling the close of the growing season. Gardeners need not despair, however, because with a little planning ahead, protecting plants from frost will lengthen the growing season.
The key to good frost protection is to trap the warm air from the ground in a tent over the plants. On calm, clear nights when temperature drop to just below freezing, plants can be kept warm using only the warmth from the surrounding soil.
Since it is important that the cover not touch the plant during the cold time, gardeners can place support items around their plants to hold the cover above the plant. Small frames made from PVC pipes can form a perfect box over planting areas. The height of the support frame should be just above, but not touching, the plant top. Keeping the cover close to the plant is critical for keeping the warm air around the plant without loosing heat to the night. Large open areas in the tent above the plant are not recommended because this works against trapping the heat. Make sure all edges of the cover are on the ground near the plant, and weigh down the edges to prevent them from lifting during windy weather.
For low-growing planting beds, a strong wire frame can be made from fencing to cover the entire bed at once. Take a wire fencing material that is very sturdy and run it along the length of the bed to be protected. Cut the fence to be just longer than the bed. Attach one of the long sides of the fence to wood timbers running along it, and curve the top of the fencing over the bed to form a long tunnel. Attach the other side of the tunnel to wood timbers. Place 6 millimeter thick plastic sheeting over the tunnel and secure the ground side of the plastic with weight to prevent it from blowing away. Close the plastic at both ends with clothespins.
In this tunnel technique, gardeners can make it easy to open and close the plastic by having two sheets of plastic, one on each side of the tunnel, to pull up and over the top portion of the plant bed. During the day if temperatures are still cold, the tunnel can be opened slightly at the top by pulling open the two sheets from each other and securing the open sheets with clothespins.
If the plants are small, covers made from plastic milk jugs work well. Simply remove the bottom from the jug and place the jug around the plant with a weight at the top, such as a rock, to hold it in place. Milk jugs filled with water can act as a handy heater for small areas. As water changes from liquid to frozen, heat is given off that keeps small spaces above the freezing mark. Or, paint the milk jug flat black, and place it in the sun during the day. At night the jug can be placed under the plant cover near the plant to act as a space heater in the tent.
Care should be taken to uncover plants each morning before the heat builds up in the tenting. It can quickly overheat on sunny days and plants can be lost to heat. If the day is still cold, open a few small areas on the sides to allow heat to escape.
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