Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Hard Freeze in the Garden

 

If there was any doubt in your mind that our gardening season is over for this year, this should convince you… At about 5 am this morning, the temperature had dropped to a staggering (in my mind anyway) -8°C !!!!! It is predicted that the temperature will not rise above zero until about 10am this morning. This means that we will have had a hard freeze for at least 10 hours.

For the few of you that have yet to harvest some of your crops,  here are some facts that you should know…

The status of garden vegetables after freezing varies: many frost-tolerant root vegetables like carrots and parsnips actually improve in sweetness, while others, especially fruiting vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, suffer irreversible water-soaked, mushy damage. While some vegetables can be salvaged by harvesting and cooking, others are completely ruined and should be discarded. 

HARVEST FROST-TOLERANT VEGETABLES

  • Root crops: (carrots, beets, potatoes, parsnips, turnips) can remain in the garden, as the soil protects them. Harvest them as soon as possible to store them before the ground freezes solid. 

·    Hardy greens: (kale, spinach, lettuce, and collards) are often improved by frost, which can increase their sweetness.  

·    Other resilient vegetables: include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, leeks, and cabbage. 

SALVAGE DAMAGED VEGETABLES

  • Fruiting vegetables: such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers are highly susceptible to frost. They will likely show permanent water-soaked or discolored areas. 

·    Soft vegetables: will lose their firmness and become mushy when thawed. 

 

DISCARD SEVERELY FROZEN VEGATABLES

  • Fruiting vegetables: that become water-soaked are a sign of irreversible damage. 

·    Mushy vegetables: that appear completely mushy or show signs of extensive rot should be discarded. 


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