First Frost

Saturday morning I went to the farm and saw that the night before marked our first frost of the season. Reaching 32 degrees will rupture the cells of the most sensitive plants on the farm, turning their leaves and stems dark green/brown and structure-less. Friday night’s temperatures killed our basil, summer squash, nasturtiums and beans. It could have done in our tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, tomatillos and ground cherries if we hadn’t already pulled them from the ground due to disease or low productivity. A few of our more sensitive crops were able to withstand the low temperatures because we were able to cover them with the white row cover fabric we use for pest protection. The cold temperatures can be beneficial for some plants. It will cause carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, kale and collards to taste sweeter. This year’s frost came about one week later than last year, but one week earlier than the average frost date for this region (which is Halloween).  It is with both sadness and relief that I say winter is on its way!