FIMBY: Prepare now for colder weather in the edible garden

This is another in our weekly Food in My Back Yard series, dedicated to edible gardening.

Temperatures are peaking in the 70s for a few more days, but we all know what’s coming: late fall and winter cold.

Lower temperatures and less daylight combine to put stress on plants. The edible garden can survive cold weather if the gardener takes some prepatory steps — and follows through when the cold finally arrives.

What to do now?

— Walk around the garden and make a mental list of which plants are potential frost victims.

For example: The basil that’s doing so well? Frost usually will decimate it. Decide whether to harvest the leaves now or let nature takes its course. You also can take basil cuttings (pinch off any flowers), arrange them in a vase as you would flowers and place it in a sunny window — you can have fresh basil this winter for much longer than you might think.

Note: If you’re growing African blue basil for the bees and other pollinators, now’s the time to take fresh 6- to 8-inch cuttings for next year’s plants. This variety of basil is not grown from seed, only from cuttings, but it produces roots easily in water. Keep it in water after roots appear or move to potting soil in a container with good light for longer life.

Pepper plants also are quite frost-sensitive. With in-ground plants, harvest anything on the plant before cold weather hits, and call it a year. If the plant is in a container, and it’s one worth keeping, move it to a sheltered area and keep it watered, but know that it likely will shut down production until the weather warms again.

As for the backyard orchard: Any young citrus trees likely will need protection, especially lime trees. If they’re in containers, can you move them easily to a protected spot? If in the ground, can they easily be covered? Decide on a course of action now.

Keep a close eye on any nearly ripe fruit, such as persimmons and pomegranates. Be prepared to harvest ripe fruit before frost hits. Lemons and limes can be harvested now.

— Put together a frost protection kit that’s easily accessible.

This could include specialized frost cloths (available at hardware stores), blankets or old sheets, sets of old-fashioned Christmas lights and their extension cords. Support devices for the cloths also are useful, to keep sheets or blankets from touching the tree limbs. I’ve been known to repurpose tomato cages to support frost covers for smaller trees, but look around and use what you have. Trellises, PVC pipe and stakes also work.

— Keep plants irrigated. Frost injury occurs when ice crystals form on leaf surfaces and draw moisture out of the leaf. The damage from dehydration is what causes frost burn.

The exceptions to this rule are cactus, succulents and tropical plants such as bananas and hibiscus (roselle), which could rot if the soil is soggy. Do protect those plants from frost as much as possible.

Many edible plants grown this time of year aren’t bothered by cold and actually may taste better with a kiss of frost. These include carrots, potatoes, beets, parsnips, turnips, onions, garlic, radish, rutabaga, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, bok choy and collard greens.

— Hang a good thermometer outside or keep an instant-read thermometer available to check air temperature. Your garden may be in a microclimate that differs slightly from your general region.

What to do when frost is forecast?

— Move any container and hanging plants to shelter, such as under eaves, into the garage or onto a covered patio.

— Wind those old-style Christmas lights around the trunk and through the branches of the trees/shrubs to be protected. Wrap the trunks of young trees with cloths such as old towels.

— Cover sensitive plants before sunset so radiant heat will help keep them comfortable. Ideally, covers should go to the ground, but that’s not alway possible; even some coverage will help.

— Don’t forget to uncover the plants after sunrise so they won’t be suffocated. (Specialized frost cloths do let in some air.)

— If frost damage occurs, don’t cut it off now. The damaged leaves or branches will protect the remaining parts of the plant during the rest of the winter. Wait until spring to remove the damaged parts.

For more details on frost and frost protection, check out this article from the UC Sacramento County master gardeners.