OK...the frosty Florida temps have passed (we pray!) and plants damaged by the cold have been trimmed, although plants may continue to develop signs of damage from the cold for a month or more. Besides the obvious signs of frost bite (dead, brown leaves), other signs of stress may include curling leaves, split bark, yellow leaves, wilting and cracked stems. It may take some time for the garden to look its best again!
However, your garden may have experienced the worst...death, especially in the vegetable garden! My beans and herb garden were completely devestated. However, hope is not all lost. There is still time to plant or replant. Try these veggies for quick results (plant to harvest time is listed):
Bush beans, 50-60 days
Beets and cuc, 50-65 days
Leaf lettuce, 50 or less days
Mustard greens, about 45 days
Radishes, 20 days
Spinach, 45-60 days (prefers cool weather)
Summer squash and zucchini, 45-60 days
Turnip greens, 45-60 days
Additionally, this is the perfect time to create a map of your landscape. Mark the map by roughly drawing the structures and major plants, trees, hedges and beds. Then note where plants sustained the most damage, where frost or ice formed, and what survived. Use this map to plan for additions and changes to your landscape. Choose plants that are adaped to the microclimates on your property for better survival next time mother nature turns her cold shoulder your direction!
If you aren't sure what cold hardiness zone you live in, you can click on the link and enter your zip code to find out.
http://www.garden.org/zipzone/
There's another map that is very beneficial...the heat zone map, used much in the same way as the cold hardiness map, the heat zone map shows the various heat levels of individual regions. Plants may be able to tolerate the cold zone, but may not be as tolerant to the summer heat. In South Florida, we understand this concept well. The intensity of the summer sun is sometimes more damaging than the brief cold spells experienced in the short winter months. To find out what heat zone you're in, check out the map by clicking on the link:
http://www.ahs.org/pdfs/05_heat_map.pdf
So, while your garden is recuperating, take this time to replant damaged veggies and herbs, and plan your garden according to the various microclimates within your landscape.
There's another map that is very beneficial...the heat zone map, used much in the same way as the cold hardiness map, the heat zone map shows the various heat levels of individual regions. Plants may be able to tolerate the cold zone, but may not be as tolerant to the summer heat. In South Florida, we understand this concept well. The intensity of the summer sun is sometimes more damaging than the brief cold spells experienced in the short winter months. To find out what heat zone you're in, check out the map by clicking on the link: http://www.ahs.org/pdfs/05_heat_map.pdf 
2 comments:
I am sorry this happened. It doesn't seem fair when you work so hard and a few cold night does in all your plants. But like you say, there is still time to plant and grow new ones while the others try to recuperate. The weather is a strong force and no matter how hard we try to contol things we are always at it's mercy.
Hi Kimberly...I need to get busy and plant some veggies. My broccoli and collards made it through okay, but not the tomato. Thanks for all the great info.
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