All About Frost
The hot question I am receiving this week is “when will the first frost hit my area.” The 2007 Farmers’ Almanac has a first frost guide on pages 80 - 81. Cold temperatures impact plants and vegetations and even your home heating bill.
Let’s talk about frosts and freezes. Frost damage depends upon the length and duration of the frost.
Light Freeze = 29 degrees F to 32 F/ -2C - 0C . Tender plants killed with little destructive effect on other vegetation.
Moderate Freeze = 25 F to 28 F / -4 C to -2 C. Wide destruction on most vegetation with heavy damage to fruit blossoms and tender small hardy plants.
Severe Freeze = 24 F / -4 C and colder. Heavy damage to most plants…. it’s over ’till Spring.
Late September and October will generate cold enough temperatures to “put a freeze” on most parts of the US and Canada.
Here are a few first freeze dates (average):
Hartford, Ct - October 10
Boise, ID - October 9
Chicago, Il - November 2
Augusta, Me - October 8
Baltimore, Md - November 13
Grand Rpds, Mi - September 16
Syracuse, NY - October 16
Asheville, NC - October 24
Nashville, Tn - October 29
Austin, Tx - November 24th
Oshkosh, Wi - October 4
A more complete list of first frost dates for the fall and last frosts in the Spring can be found in the 2007 Farmers’ Almanac.
If you think there is a frost in the air, here is what you can do to help determine if you have to bring plants inside or bring your blankets outside.
1. Look skyward. Clear calm skies and falling afternoon temperatures are perfect conditions for frost. If temperatures are falling fast and the wind is out of the northwest, it may indicate the approach of polar air and a hard freeze. If you see heavy and low hanging clouds at night, you are in luck. The sun heats the ground during the day and the clouds act as a blanket preventing frost….. at least for a while.
2. Check the Moisture. Just as clouds and gentle winds are your friends, so are humidity and moisture. When moisture condenses out of humid air, it releases heat.. If the air is dry, the moisture in the ground will evaporate. Evaporation requires heat, which may be just enough to save your little peppers.
3. Your Garden’s Location. This has an influence on your garden’s first frost. As a general rule the temperature drops 3 - 5 degrees F with every 1,000-foot increase in altitude. The higher the garden, the colder the air. and more likely to get bit by an early freeze.. So a garden at a high altitude is not a good thing. A garden in a valley or surrounded by buildings or trees may help it stay warm a few days longer.
4. Watch the soil. The type of soil in your garden impacts its ability to handle moisture. Deep, loose, heavy fertile soil releases more moisture into the surrounding air than thin, sandy or poor nutrient soil. Heavily mulched ground will become frosted since the mulch prevents evaporation.
5. Know Your Plants. Frost tolerance is better in plants with maroon or bronze leaves, because they retain heat better.. Hairy leaved plants also retain heat. Compact plants expose a smaller portion of their leaves to cold and drying winds and are safer. By the same token, closely spaced plants protect one another - it’s a groupie thing.
Whether you live in Fairbanks, Alaska where the first frost arrives around September 6th or Tucson Arizona where you won’t think frost until November 29th, it is important to watch and get the most out of you plants for as long as possible. Remember, we are saying that “Shivery Is Not Dead.” Expect lots of cold this winter. In fact Northern Maine saw temps in the 30-degree area last night. Come January they will consider that a heat wave.
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