Keeping Plants Protected From Cold

A blackberry spell, as the old timers call it, can mean cold weather for newly transplanted annuals and perennials. How can you protect plants from cold weather?

In my garden we had not only planted new rose plants, grape vines and raspberry bushes but many tender annuals had already been set into the vegetable beds. Then the "blackberry spell" - unexpected cold weather that came seemingly from no where after such a mild and temperate spring.

A quick phone call to the county extension office and a discussion about protecting plants from the elements uncovered some helpful tips.

A bedsheet or mattress cover will give about 5 degrees of protection and is a quick, easy way to protect shrubs or large beds from a mild drop in temperature. Especially if the plants are cold hardy already and may just need a little extra protection from the cold weather becuase of being newly transplanted, as was the case with my rose bushes.

Straw packed around the plant, or soil loosely banked up around it, will give you closer to ten degree protection and is probably the best choice for tomatoes or other annual vegetables that may have been set out too soon. We used feed sacks to hold the straw in place and provide extra protection in case of freezing sleet and ice.

We actually used straw on everything because it was readily available, but my tomatoes and pepper plants got a double layer and then covered over for added protection from the cold Oklahoma winds we often have here.

A quick check to uncover everything for watering and sunlight this morning revealed all my plants are doing well and the rose bushes are even putting out new buds!