Early Spring and late Fall Father Frost often pays us a visit and freezes the water within the leaves of our plants. One of ways you can defeat Frost and extend your growing season is to cover your plants with a blanket.
Frost blankets varies in width and length as well as the thickness or weight of the material. The blankets I use are 6′ x 50′ and provide 4 degrees of protection per layer. In practice I find this to be a conservative estimate.
Last fall I planted spinach and not only did the crop flourish but it also survived frosts down to 8 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to frost protection there are other advantages to covering your crops with a blanket.
The recommended practice is to fit the blanket loosely so the plants have room to grow. The porosity of the blanket allows water to penetrate the fiber so once it’s in place there’s no need to remove it for watering. Finally the blanket provides protection from the wind and reduces drying and therefore the need to water frequently.
