Vegetable Garden Plant Hardiness

Hardiness or cold-hardiness is a term used to denote a plant's ability to withstand cold temperatures. Cold-hardiness commonly specifies the minimum temperature to which a plant can be exposed and still be able to resume growing.

1. What temperature is too cold for vegetable plants?
2. What temperature can vegetable plants tolerate?
3. What is the lowest temperature for vegetable plants?
4. What garden plants can survive frost?
5. Will one night of frost kill my plants?
6. Are tomato plants OK at 40 degrees?
7. At what temperature should I cover my plants?
8. What month do you plant vegetables?
9. Can vegetable plants survive 40 degree weather?
10. How cold is too cold to plant tomatoes?
11. Is 40 degrees too cold for plants?
12. How do I protect my vegetable garden from frost?

What temperature is too cold for vegetable plants?

A temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit is too cold for a vegetable garden. This temperature will cause frost to develop in the garden that can damage the roots, leaves, and fruits in your vegetable garden. You can protect your vegetable garden if the temperature drop is temporary.

What temperature can vegetable plants tolerate?

When to Plant Cool-Season Vegetables

Cool-season vegetables usually develop edible roots, stems, leaves, or buds, such as cabbage, onions, and potatoes. These crops grow best when soil temperatures range between 40°F and 75°F.

What is the lowest temperature for vegetable plants?

Light freeze (29 to 32 degrees F) kills only tender plants, moderate freeze (25 to 28 degrees) will be widely destructive to plants and fruits, and severe freeze (24 degrees and colder) damages most plants. As gardeners, our frost dates are based on 32 degrees to avoid the risk of any plant death.

What garden plants can survive frost?

According to Myers, the hardiest vegetables that can withstand heavy frost of air temperatures below 28 include spinach, Walla Walla sweet onion, garlic, leeks, rhubarb, rutabaga, broccoli, kohlrabi, kale, cabbage, chicory, Brussels sprouts, corn salad, arugula, fava beans, radish, mustard, Austrian winter pea and ...

Will one night of frost kill my plants?

A light frost may cause minimal damage while a severe frost may kill plants. Young, vulnerable plants are much more susceptible to a light freeze, which occurs when temperatures are 29 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, while mature plants may only suffer from short-term effects.

Are tomato plants OK at 40 degrees?

Tomatoes' Temperature Range

Although mature plants might survive light frosts, temperatures below 40 F damage flower and fruit production, making tomatoes perennial only in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 12 and up. ... Above 95 F, the flowers abort and will not produce fruit.

At what temperature should I cover my plants?

Cover Plants – Protect plants from all but the hardest freeze (28°F for five hours) by covering them with sheets, towels, blankets, cardboard or a tarp. You can also invert baskets, coolers or any container with a solid bottom over plants. Cover plants before dark to trap warmer air.

What month do you plant vegetables?

April is the best time to plant most of your vegetable seeds after your last frost. It's still not too late to plant tomatoes and peppers from seeds as well. Be sure to check your gardening zone for last frost dates.

Can vegetable plants survive 40 degree weather?

Hardy vegetables tolerate cold temperatures the best—their seeds will germinate in cool soil, and seedlings can typically survive heavy frost. Plant these seeds or transplants two to three weeks before the date of the average last spring frost; they will grow in daytime temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

How cold is too cold to plant tomatoes?

Low Temperatures

Although tomato plants can survive temperatures down to 33 degrees Fahrenheit, they show problems when temperatures drop below 50 degrees F, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service.

Is 40 degrees too cold for plants?

Times for planting might include late winter or early spring, when temperatures fall below 40 degrees at night in most parts of the country. ... After hardening off the annual seedlings, you can plant hardy annuals if the temperature stays at 40 degrees or above.

How do I protect my vegetable garden from frost?

Frost blankets or cloth row covers work well. One example is the Reemay garden blanket. Other options are plastic coverings or tarps. * Be sure your plant covers are weighted to the ground with bricks or stones or they are anchored to the soil to protect them from blowing in the wind.