Frost Protection for Home Gardens

A late or early frost can wipe out tender plants in a single night, and the difference between losing and saving a crop is often a few minutes of preparation. Protection is cheap insurance.

The options range from simple covers to careful watering, and each adds a little margin against the cold. Knowing the forecast and acting early is most of the battle.

• Cover plants with fabric before nightfall
• Water the soil, since moist soil holds heat
• Move containers to shelter or indoors
• Harvest tender crops before a hard freeze