I often associate the month of the class with the seasonal tasks to be performed in the vegetable garden . I usually imagine of the month of April – May as the “ planting time of year ” while June – July is the “ grow ” time of year with its maintenance tasks of weeding and lacrimation ; August – September is the harvest home season , and October , well , that is myparanoia season ,
October is paranoia time of year because in our area , it is the first frost month — ordinarily around the 15thof the month . It can get earlier or afterwards , but we fuck it is go to encounter , we just do n’t know when . I always have capsicum pepper plant need just a little more time to change by reversal to that brilliant red or unadulterated golden yellow , tomato on one tomato plant plant or the other that are slow in ripening , or that one lettuce bed that is just starting to rock , so I am glued to the atmospheric condition report endeavor to catch that first freeze word of advice . I ca n’t count the times we ’ve had a frost and then decent afterwards Indian summertime picture up smiling with temperatures in the 70 ’s and 80 ’s for a mates of weeks after all the hurt is done . I have in the end occur to the end that waiting for that freezing warning is too tardy because there areprecautions that can be take to extend the originate season before that fear Robert Lee Frost prognosis .
turn out there aretwo typesof frost , advective and radiation . Advective frost takes place when a cold front traverse into an area . A actinotherapy frost occurs under tranquil winds and well-defined sky , earmark radiant hotness from the earth to get up to the upper layers of the atmospheric state . With radiation icing , the lack of wind prevents mixing of the air and an everting develop . An inversion is just a fancy way of enunciate “ things get rick around from the normal . ” Normally the atmosphere closest to the undercoat is the warm , but when an inversion happens , inhuman air collects near the undercoat while the warm air lie above the trapped cold air . During an inversion , stale atmosphere is just like water pass down a hill — it seeks the lowly point in time because it is heavier than warm tune , and Robert Frost pocket may form . The first hoarfrost typically is a radiation sickness frost that occurs on a calm , readable night .
There are several things we can do when a frost warning is issued :
glean early : flowering plantssuch as beans , Lycopersicon esculentum , capsicum , eggplant , squash and okra need to be harvested if there is no mode to protect them . yield harvest in the mature green degree will still mature but woefully will not have the same flavor as a vine - ripened yield .
body of water before a Robert Lee Frost – a moist dirt can hold approximately four times more heat than a dry grime . A dampish soil can also guide heat to the soil surface faster than a dry soil , provide some rime protection . A Cornell University bailiwick suggests that the breeze temperature above a tight filth is 5 degree higher than that above a teetotal soil , and in the subject , that difference of opinion was keep until 6 a.m. The close of this survey was that industrial plant could profit from water the eve before a rime .
report your plants — covering plants can provide anywhere from2 to 6 degrees Fprotection , depending on the type of fabric used . The covers can be laid right on top of the plant or can be supported by stakes or a frame , the main remainder being thatthere is less hoar protection when the cover reach out to the plant . Any fabric can be used as cover ; however , woven fabric are adept insulators than plastics or paper . The practiced time to practice cover is in the former good afternoon after the wind dies down . Remove the covers the next morning .
words cover provides 2 - 3 degrees F frost protective covering
Additional Tips and Tasks for October
Sources :
Phillips , Ben , “ Freeze Damage in Fall Vegetables : Identifying and Preventing,”http://msue.anr.msu.edu / news / freeze_damage_in_fall_vegetables_identifying_and_preventing
“ Understanding Frost , ” Cornell Cooperative Extension , http://www.gardening.cornell.edu / weather / frost.pdf
Clemson Cooperative Extension , Publication HGIC 1322 , “ Sweet Potato,”http://www.clemson.edu / reference / hgic / plants / veggie / crops / hgic1322.html
Virginia Cooperative Extension , Publication 426 - 401 , “ Asparagus”,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 401/426 - 401.html
Colorado State University , Publication GMG # 722 , “ Frost Protection and Extending the Growing Season,”http://www.ext.colostate.edu / mg / gardennotes/722.html
