Sami Grover
DCL
From building a DIY greenhouse to constructing a movable cold frame, there's much to be said for extending your growing season and protecting plants from frost. As I mentioned yesterday, even the simple addition of floating row cover can create a favorable microclimate that nourishes tender plants.
But before you add any kind of structure or cover to the soil, there are steps you can take to protect your garden from frost. And that means working with your soil, and with your surroundings. Some of these tips may come late for this year, but it's a great time to observe your garden and learn about its inner-most details.
WATCH VIDEO: Renovation Nation 2 covers the construction of a backyard greenhouse.
So here are a few environmental factors that can effect frost hardiness.
Darker Soils are Warmer Soils: Just think back to the last time you wore a black t-shirt in the sunshine. Hot, wasn't it? Darker soils warm up more too, and are slower to release their heat—so add plenty of organic matter like peat or compost, and place delicate plants in your heaviest, darkest soils.
Terracing and Slope Creates Warmth: With decent slope, frost can literally roll off a surface and collect in pockets. It also angles the soil to better catch winter sun. According to this video of permaculture expert Mike Feingold, every 5 degrees of slope is like being 100 miles further South!
Don't Crowd Your Plants: Spacing plants too close together means you block sunlight from the soil, and that means it can't warm up. So leave a little extra room in your winter garden.
Frost Isn't Always Intuitive: Frost doesn't always strike where your text book knowledge might tell you, so observe your garden carefully. Watch for the sunniest spots. Watch for areas where the ground is particularly frosty. And watch where your cat likes to sleep—seriously, it's almost certainly the sunniest spot. Also, be aware that frost and freezing aren't always what damages the plants—rapid thawing can also be a particular hazard. So counter-intuitively, a frost-vulnerable spot that gets strong morning sun may be the worst of all worlds.
Mass Holds Heat: Denser materials hold heat longer. So walls, pathways, ponds, bed edging, these can all radiate heat and protect from frost. Plant your plants creatively to make use of these heat sinks.
Experience Breeds ingenuity: We already know that we should be OK with failure in the garden. After all, how else are we going to learn. But it's important to learn those lessons well. So take notes, take pictures even, and record what did well where. Forewarned is forearmed. Salivating over sustainable eats? Learn how to make your own with help from Emeril Lagasse in Planet Green TV's organic cooking show, Emeril Green.
