Posted by Mary Small
Colorado State University Extension, Jefferson County
Jack Frost happens. Depending on the temperature and
its duration, he can spell the end of the growing season for many herbaceous
plants. I pondered the end as I went to look at the garden one morning following a frost. Instead of sighing in disgust I took delight in the magical beauty he left behind and that got me thinking more about frost.
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| Morning glory, still beautiful |
We all know what it can do to plants. But what is frost, exactly? According to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, frost is the “formation of ice crystals on the ground
or other surfaces in the form of scales, needles, feathers of fans.” Frost is
common when the humidity is high enough, similar to the conditions under which
dew is formed. (Dew forms, however, when temperatures are above freezing, not
below.)
Frost alone doesn’t kill plants. That's why some can survive a visit from Jack and still look fine. Injury happens
only when internal plant temperatures drop low enough so that ice crystals form inside plant cells. Cellular liquid
freezes, forming the crystals. These sharp objects in turn, puncture cell membranes. As air and plant temperatures warm up, ice crystals liquefy. It leaks out of cells,dehydrating them. Voila! Dead, blackened, wilted-looking plants.
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| Frost crystals on a weed |
Plants growing close to the soil may survive freezing temperatures a bit longer than others due to warmth generated from the soil. This heat gets conducted up and around the plant at least a few inches. And get this...when soil’s moist, it can hold four times
as much heat as a dry one and conduct it faster!
It's this soil warming we take advantage of when we cover tender plants, trying to avoid the inevitable. The heat gets trapped underneath the covering and keeps plants warmer than without it.
Next time Jack pays a visit, be sure to embrace the beauty he brings. After all, he's not to blame for plant death. He's just reducing the sting of season's end.
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| Frost on strawberries |
Thanks Mary. I was just noticing that leaves of my basil closer to the ground had not actually frozen like the upper part of the plant and wondered why that would be. I knew that colder air sinks and couldn't understand this phenomenon. Very good explanation.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog Mary! Here it is December 5 and we are still using the bright green flat-leaf parsley, rosemary and mint from our garden. Amazing I think! Thanks.
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