We are getting some extra summer it seems, a great forecast for this week. Some years, we have had frost by now. Some die hard gardeners go to great lengths to cover their garden plants for frost protection. I can say, I used to be that gardener myself. No more. By the time frost arrives, I have been waiting for it, that’s it — done for the year.
After a very weedy summer (yes, I failed) I must say I will love to see all the weeds frozen to death. Many of our garden perennials can take several frosts before they are knocked back for the year. Typically, there are two weeks between the first hard frost and the second hard frost. Knowing that, it makes sense to cover those fall raspberries, or fall ornamental pots you have by your doorways.
There are several fabrics you can purchase like frost cloths, reemay fabric etc. Fabrics that are designed for frost protection work also as insulators verses an old bed sheet.
The damage that frost does is based on two main factors: temperature and duration. Orchards and fruit farms often use overhead irrigation in an attempt to keep frost from occurring. Smudge pots can also be used to keep the area warmer. They are large pots filled with a flammable substance that are located throughout an area, used in conjunction with fans to blow warm air around the fruit trees. This may seem extreme to a local gardener, but to an orange grower — it is likely their sole income.
Most vegetable plants in our area will not tolerate any frost. The exception would be cole crops like, broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts and some herbs like parsley and sage. Tomatoes, peppers, green beans and basils are wimps and will not even tolerate light frost without protection.
Pumpkins and squash should be picked before frost occurs. When I have not paid attention to the weather, my quick fix for squash is to cover them with their own vines. Fold back the vines onto the squash or pumpkins. It doesn’t matter if you harm the vines, they will be dead by morning from the frost. The idea is to protect the fruits from frost forming on them. If your squash gets frosted, it will appear as a darker area on the skin. Make sure to eat those first as they will eventually rot because that tissue has been damaged. I am not sure what the term ‘frost on the pumpkin’ was supposed to imply, but it is not a good idea!
Overseeding the lawn
Rain has been in short supply lately so your lawn maybe looking a little haggard. If you have bare spots in the yard, now is a good time to start addressing them, with overseeding. September is the perfect time when weather is cooler. Overseeding is planting areas that are thin or where there are bald spots.
First prep the soil by scratching it up with a rake, and gently water the area, may need to stir it up again with a rake a bit. Then sprinkle the seeds over. For bare spots — I like to lightly cover with pine needles or some straw and gently step on it so the seeds make direct soil contact — very important for proper germination. The straw/needles help in many ways. It helps to ‘break’ the water or rain, which in turn helps to keep the seeds in place. It also protects from wind, and evaporation of that critical soil moisture. Water the area at least twice a day — oh so carefully. A constant sprinkler will likely wash out your seed in bare or new areas.
Most lawns that were started from sod, are usually 100% Kentucky Blue Grass. Lawns started from seed are often a mixture — mostly KBG, but also fescues and perennial rye. If you are planting bald spots you need to try to match it up more than if you are merely overseeding a thin lawn. A bald spot sprouting of perennial rye in a yard of KBG would be obvious.
KBG is by far the most expensive seed to buy. Many mixtures contain annual rye. Annual rye will NOT return the next year, so why is it in the mixtures? Annual rye grows quickly and acts as a nurse crop to help the other seeds stay in place — so it does have a purpose. Just be careful when choosing that the percent of annual rye is not greater than 20% or so. Fine fescue performs better in shady areas than other grasses, and tall fescues take a lot more abuse — like in a kids play area.
What about mossy areas? Don’t fight it! Moss grows where other plants won’t grow — like grass. So, learn to love and embrace the moss, it’s covering your soil, right?
Visit us at the Mankato Farmer’s Market! We are located at the Best Buy parking lot on Adams Street. Plants, honey, syrup, soaps, textiles, baked goods, crafts, pies, coffee, jams, local raised meats and eggs. Our Saturday schedule is 8:00 a.m. — noon. Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-5:30 p.m. with food trucks most weekdays!