How to Protect Your Garden During a Freeze

What plants to cover below:
My channel focuses on sharing my personal journey in growing our garden, farm and food forest to achieve a sustainable lifestyle. I have a passion for growing organic food and living off the land. I share monthly garden and food forest tours, recipes, and gardening tips. Please like, share and subscribe if you would like to watch my farm and garden grow through each season. Hopefully you will learn something along the way! I'm not an expert so if you think of something I could do to improve my garden please let me know. I love learning new things! My goal is to inspire you to get outdoors and enjoy some Southern Dirt and Sunshine!
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Frost cloth and old sheets are recommended for protecting plants from frost. Never allow bed sheets to lay on your plants or its possible they'll get frost bite. Use some type of tent system that will keep the sheets off the plants. Plastic is not recommended for covering your plants.
Vegetable Lowest temperature (Fahrenheit)
Tomatoes 32 Beans31 Broccoli29 Carrots 28 Cucumbers30 Kale27 Potatoes 28 Radishes30 Spinach30 Squash 30 Corn32 Beets29 Cabbage26 Cauliflower 27 Okra29 Pumpkin 31 Asparagus30
What plants to cover when there is a Freeze Advisory:
Beans
Corn
Cucumbers
Edamame
Eggplant
Melons
Okra
Peppers
Potatoes
Pumpkins
Rosemary
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Squash
Zuchini
Pumpkins
Basil (frost damage at 38)
Strawberry
Succulents (some veritys may be frost hardy)
Cool weather crops that will survive a frost without needing to cover:
Collards
Kale
Beets
Peas
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Radish
Carrots
Leeks
Lettuce (some veritys)
Turnips
Swiss Chard
Spinach
Onions
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[@hollykrupinski6727]

This was so helpful!!! Thank you so much! This is exactly what I needed!

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

I'm so glad I could be helpful!

[@drkcyd1]

There's a material called Frostcloth, you can drape that directly on your plants without fear of the material damaging the leaves (for the most part). It's hard to get in winter so shop for it in spring or summer. I've also noticed citrus trees wrapped in christmas lights works great for mainiting heat too.

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

Yes, your correct. We don't use it because It's expensive, does not last very long and tears easily. I would definitely use it if it was cost effective. Everything I used in this video was already available to us at no cost. Thank you for mentioning the frost cover opinion. I should have mentioned it in my video!!

[@weegardenhomestead805]

We are in DeSoto County FL, and have been trying to get everything taken care of. We took precautions last year, and still lost all of our tomatoes. ( We had 8 hours of hard freeze) Hoping for the best this year, otherwise we will start again with tomatoes for spring. We made it through last night, but tonight (Christmas Eve) and tomorrow night are supposed to be worse. Best of luck to you!

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

Wow! How did you guys make out? Thankfully we had minimal damage here.

[@weegardenhomestead805]

@@SouthernDirtGardener We had almost no damage. We did not have an actual freeze, all the tomatoes were covered. A bit of frost on the sweet potatoes, but those need to come out anyways. Glad you did not have much damage either.

[@doraw7766]

Excellent. I used some of your ideas and saved my tomato plants and many others. Still lost some plants but will give them a chance to regrow. This freeze has turned my garden into one big experiment. Thanks.

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

Wonderful!! Glad I was able to help. Even after doing all the things it's depends how cold it gets and how long it stays at freezing temperatures. It's usually tomatoes, peppers and eggplants that go first. I lost all mine last year to a hard freeze. I thought I lost my beans too but they bounced back! So don't pull anything yet. Trim back dead leaves and see if you get any new growth. Good Luck!!

[@Tartiitastic]

Thank you so much for your videos!! I just started gardening, and it's tough learning everything. I'm giddy though, because for the first time I have tiny tomatoes appearing, and yellow peppers! I'm brand new, and started growing them in grow bags since our soil is just sandy, but the frosst was a fear for me. I didn't want to lose my new, first fruits! This helps so much!

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

You're welcome! I'm so happy I was able to help! I remember my first gardening season! I still get giddy after 8 years and learning along the way. Good Luck the next few days! I have a Playlist called Gardening for Beginners you may like.

[@CraftEccentricity]

I was going to invest in a high tunnel, but I am seeing so many vids today where peoples plants have frozen inside, I am glad I didn't! They even have plants covered inside their tunnels and they are frosted! I don't understand that. I have raised beds with drop cloths draped over hoops and lightbulbs under the covers for the evening

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

The high tunnels and greenhouses may not help when your in the negatives unless they are heated. This winter storm has historic temperatures across the nation. Some of my plants may not make it after 3 days of possible freezing temperatures. Praying for the best. Good luck!!

[@CraftEccentricity]

@@SouthernDirtGardener Thank you, and good luck too! Praying my pak choi makes it!

[@brennanhebert4417]

Can I use lightweight sheets like satin or silk to cover plants or flowers?

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

Yes, but make sure you don't allow the sheets to touch the plants. Build a tent system. Good Luck

[@Jesuscoming7235]

I have Avery tall wisteria with big buds how do help this freeze tonight

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

I'm sorry about the freeze we did not have one thankfully. Mine is pretty frost hardy. And it can take a freeze for a short period of time you just have to trim it back after the last freeze.

[@4zooflorida]

We are in 9b, Brooksville. For the future, as I see my banana tree leaves already turning brown from last night’s temps, is what to do with the bananas. I have a regular and a dwarf cavendish who each put out an arm a few months ago. The bananas are not getting fat. The trees look like they are dying, so I was going to hang them inside. How do I get the bananas to fatten up? Will they ripen up even though they are skinny?

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

Our trees bounce back even when they look completely gone. As far as the bananas on the tree I would leave them to see what happens. Sometimes they can continue to grow and if not they will ripen on or off the tree. If you leave them on you may have a chance of them fattening up.

[@4zooflorida]

@@SouthernDirtGardener Thank you, I’ll give it a go! Warmer weather starting tomorrow, at least for a little while.

[@Firedoutdoors]

quick question in in Texas zone 9 and last frost date is Feb. 28 can i plant onions and lettuce and potatoes and carrots or wait i try to look things up but i never get an direct answer

[@Firedoutdoors]

this my first year trying to grow food and its a little confusing

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

It's best to wait and look at the forecast 2 weeks after your average last frost date. My second year gardening we got a in mid-march and I lost most everything. Average last frost date means average over the last 100 years or so. If you want to start your seeds in trays and Transplant them 2 weeks after the last frost you should be safe. That's what I usually do. I hope that answered your question.

[@JoseGonzales-ul9sv]

Ledlights don't produce anyheat

[@SouthernDirtGardener]

Yes, you are correct. My husband shared that with me after posting the video even though I was told the would. We use the old school lights now.