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Years ago I made a fatal gardening mistake. It was early May. The temperatures were in the 80s. My tiny indoor greenhouse was overcrowded with young vegetable plants. I was longing for more space. I gathered all forty of my tomato seedlings and put them in the garden that day. It seemed like a great way to get a head start on the garden season. The temperatures dropped a few days later and a light frost was forecasted. I placed bed sheets over the tomato plants. They didn't die but they struggled the entire season and I only harvested a handful of ripe tomatoes. They experienced transplant shock and because of this, they were never able to fully mature.
If you live in the north, you know how eager us gardeners are to start after a long winter. It's hard to resist a few warm days in early spring. If the opportunity presents itself, it seems reasonable to start early but I've come to learn that it rarely pays off and mother nature doesn't appreciate being outwitted. Gardening is hard and mistakes are rarely forgiven.
A frost is when the air temperature dips below 32 degrees and forms ice crystals on plants and grass. Many annual flowers and vegetables will not survive a frost. Years of data have been compiled to calculate average last spring frost dates for the entire United States. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was created to aid gardeners, farmers, and homeowners in deciding which plants will thrive in their area and when the average last spring frost date is expected. The map is broken down into 13 zones. Much of New York excluding the Adirondacks and New York City is located in Zone 5. This means the average last frost date is about the 2nd-3rd week in May, but this can vary locally depending upon elevation and microclimates.
It's a good idea in Zone 5 to plant warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers around or after Memorial Day weekend, when the soil temperature has warmed and the threat of a late spring frost is minimal. If you are planting seeds into your vegetable garden, check the back of your seed packets for information on desired growing conditions. Many seeds will not germinate in cool soil even if the danger of frost has passed.
Plant hardiness refers to the ability of a plant to withstand cold temperatures. Cool season vegetables such as leafy greens, peas, and Swiss chard are considered cold-hardy vegetables. They will tolerate cold weather and their seeds will germinate in cool garden soil. Growing a spring garden can be a great way to get an early start on the garden season.
Planting zones are also useful in deciding what landscape plants will survive in a certain area. Garden centers and nurseries typically only stock trees, shrubs, and perennials that will thrive in the designated planting zone they are located in. It is important to note that planting zones within the US can be relatively close to one another and caution must be used when purchasing plants outside your area. Some landscape plants will not tolerate even the slightest fluctuations in average low or high temperatures while many have a wider range of planting zones they will thrive in.
Mother's Day weekend seems to be the unofficial time of year when people flock to local garden centers, buying hanging baskets, vegetables, and flats of annual flowers. Most annual garden flowers and vegetables are considered tender plants. They will not survive a frost. They will need to be placed in a protected area like a garage or basement until the threat of frost has passed and the soil temperature has warmed. For best results check the extended forecast before buying. Warm season plants are happiest in their cozy garden center greenhouses. If transferred to a cold garage, they can become shocked and struggle for the entire growing season.
When the weather forecast calls for low air temperatures to reach 38 degrees and below, expect patchy frost. Temperature readings by meteorologist are taken several feet above the ground. Cold air is heavier than warm air, so it often settles, making the ground a few degrees colder than the actual measured air temperature. So, it is possible to get a frost, even when the temperature is forecasted for the high 30s.
It's common to place a bedsheet over tender plants when a frost is forecasted. It can provide just enough protection to minimize frost damage. Floating row cover looks like a bedsheet but is made specifically for agriculture use. It is lightweight and unlike a bedsheet, it allows sunlight to pass through. Hoops can be purchased with it to create a microclimate. This gives your plants room to grow tall without interference.
Floating row cover can also be used to extend the season in the fall. Damage from a light frost in early fall can be minimized by using floating row cover.
Our springtime temperatures have become more sporadic in recent years. Record highs followed by freezing temperatures and frost are becoming more common causing fruiting trees such as peaches, plums, and apples to break bud early and then get damaged by cold snaps. This results in little to no fruit yields. Bedsheets and floating row cover can help minimize the damage to early budding trees.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map also list average first frost dates in the fall. This information is useful in determining how long your growing season will be. This is helpful if you're starting vegetables from seed. Some vegetables can take an entire growing
season-plus to mature.
Good advice! Thank you!
Thanks for this. I was tempted to put out my plants when it hit 88. This info kept me from losing some plants.