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Flirting the F Word

© Barbara M. Martin

Please note: Thank you for visiting my Cottage Garden topic and reading my columns, published here from February 1997 through spring 2003! This Cottage Garden column was written by Barbara M. Martin and is Copyrighted by Barbara M. Martin. It may not be altered or copied or published elsewhere in whole or in part without specific permission from the author. I regret I am no longer actively editing or contributing to this suite101.com topic as of mid-2003. Happy Gardening!

Frost is the word here, maybe even tonight. Lows in the mid to low thirties, skirting the issue. Phooey. Fall is bad enough, but to do a dance with the frost/freeze is just more than I can bear.

My planters are filled with everything tender from the old standby impatiens and caladiums to the funky ornamental sweet potatoes and wonderfully exotic herby things like lemon verbena and pineapple sage. The softer side of gardening is undoubtedly unpleasant when the plants are turned to mush overnight.

But I know if I can protect my tender plants through the first night or two of frost then we will probably be able to enjoy them for about another month - we seem to have a few early nippy nights and then several weeks of nice weather again before the killing frost and serious cold.

So what can I do? Carrying the pots in to the kitchen at night and back out again in the morning is an option but a bit tedious if not bad for the old back - not to mention not a project to do after getting dressed for work at the office. Dirt and dry cleaners do not mix! I have many large containers too heavy to move, anyway, so that's of limited help.

Covering the plants with folded newspapers or cardboard or even old sheets and blankets will work, as will upended wicker baskets, cardboard boxes, and even plastic laundry hampers, stray buckets and of course old flower pots. It's best if they don't touch the plants, but after that the list can get pretty creative, especially if you are covering your plants after hearing the temperature warning on the ten o'clock news and it's cold and dark outside. Be sure to weight down lighter materials in case a breeze comes through and tries to flip all of your protective coverings over to the neighbor's! For this purpose, odd bricks, small stones and tin cans from the pantry cupboard are all very handy. If on the other hand it's a howling gale, then you might as well pack it in anyway: Nature is trying to tell you something!

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