Frosts Good for Some Plants

Posted by Robert Dailey Nov 23, 2007

Cool, clear high desert nights can actually help sweeten some cool-season crops.

Those that benefit from frosts include:

• Carrots
• Spinach
• Cabbage
• Leeks.

Great shapes, sizes and color variations can be seen in winter squash, pumpkins and other squash-like plants.

Remember that these plants are native to the Americas and were grown in the high desert as well as in warmer climates.

You can actually keep pumpkins and squashes for long periods of time by keeping them between 50 and 65 degrees F, and at low humidity. If you don’t have a root cellar, then find another sheltered place for them. Many people use an unheated garage that is attached to the house to store squash and pumpkins in. If they have been cured (put them for about a week in room with plenty of ventilation) before you store them. Plant wounds will heal in such an environment, and help them keep longer.

Before you store all of them, however, make some pumpkin-seed soup, and scrape out a pumpkin or two for those Thanksgiving pumpkin pies. Also, take a couple of dried pumpkins and squashes for a great fall table centerpiece, or even outdoor decoration.

Cook some squash in a mixture of water and honey (to your taste), constantly reducing the mixture, until done.