Prepare soil and plant placement by avoiding frost pockets where late killing frosts accumulate.
Tip: Avoid low-lying areas where cold air settles.
2
Protect tender plants by hanging blankets over them during cold nights.
Tip: This allows fruit to ripen perfectly even as temperatures drop.
3
Apply a mulch of leaves, straw, or rough material to garden beds, such as strawberry beds.
Tip: Spread the material lightly to insulate the roots.
4
Winterize canes by 'laying them down'—bending them near the soil and securing the tips with a shovelful of earth.
Tip: Cover the entire length with soil or rough manure only when freezing weather is imminent.
5
Utilize cold frames by placing unripened fruit on clean straw and using a sash to keep out the frost.
Tip: Keep the frame well-ventilated to prevent rot.
6
Protect bulbs by lifting them into pots or boxes and moving them indoors if fall frost is feared.
Tip: Store bulbs in temperatures between 45° to 50°.
7
Create an insulation layer for wintering onions by spreading 18 inches of straw on a dry floor, adding onions, and covering with another 2 feet of straw.
Tip: This prevents sudden temperature changes.
Pro Tips
Remove mulch from canes before new growth starts in the spring.
For bulbs, cut tops to within 2 inches of the apex before curing in sun and air for a week.