Preparing for the late spring frost is something that all gardeners and growers must keep in mind. While some plants can tolerate a light frost, such as lettuce and broccoli, other plants are unable to withstand such harsh conditions. Warm season crops like cucumber and squash will not survive the frost. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for all growers to maintain a solid knowledge of how to protect the plants that need protecting during the late spring freeze. 

Some seed packaging will display a warning such as “Plant after all frost hazards have passed”. However, it is important for gardeners and growers to maintain this information on their own, as different regions and different plants will require specific care. To find out the climate in your region and the date of the average last spring frost, we recommend going to the National Climate Data Center. This will help for growers and gardeners to gain a better understanding of typical climate changes where they are growing their crops.

Preparing for the late spring freeze is important. As such, all growers should loosely adhere to the following instructions:

• Be sure that you are planting at the appropriate time for your specific region 
• Keep a tab on the weather and weather predictions 
• Keep plants hydrated 
• Use mulch on your gardens 
• Ensure that your perennial plants are protected 
• Use a sheet or frost cloth to insulate your harvest 

While some late spring freezes are harsher than others, prepared growers are always placed in a better position to protect their precious crops. As such, it is critical to be aware of your regional climate conditions, zones, and the specific needs of your plants on an individual basis.