frost

This is still time to plant trees, shrubs, spring-blooming bulbs
By George Bonnema, Luverne Horticulturalist
October 12, 2021
According to the weather forecast, our growing season is about finished. If you have tender bulbs like cannas, gladiolas or dahlias, a light frost will kill the tops but not harm the bulb itself. When the top growth is dead, it’s time to dig the bulb. I use a potato fork to loosen the soil and lift the bulb or clump of bulbs from the soil. In the case of “clump” bulbs, I leave the adhering soil…
Pick tomatoes now before predicted frost occurs; other vegetables will tolerate the cold
By George Bonnema, Luverne Horticulturalist
October 08, 2019
The inevitable frost is predicted for this week so that means if you want to savor the flavor of a few more tomatoes, you will want to pick as many as you have good intentions for. Fairly mature green tomatoes can be ripened off the vine by wrapping them individually in paper or putting several in a paper bag and storing them at room temperature. The enclosure captures the ethylene gas that…
How low can temps go before young plants show frost damage?
By George Bonnema
April 28, 2015
Last week had me wondering just how much cold the tender new growth of perennials, shrubs, and trees could actually tolerate … nature never fails to amaze me. At 25 degrees for a low, I saw very little damage to anything, including my blooming daffodils. I’m hoping that was the last of that kind of cold we will see for many months! Speaking of daffodils, their display lasted for more than two…

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