Growing tomatoes is all fun and jokes until wind and frost sets in…
Wind not only causes physical damage to the tomato crop but also draws away potential pollinators (like bees and butterflies) that could promote healthier fruit sets.
Frost, similarly, damages developing fruit and might even cause rotting on a large scale.
In this article, we’ll go over some useful tips and strategies to protect your tomatoes from early frost and wind.
Even if your tomatoes haven’t experienced the side effects of frost yet, it’s better to know about these tricks just in case things go wrong in the near future.
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
5 Ways To Protect Tomatoes From Early Frost & Wind
1 – Build Temporary Greenhouse
To build a temporary greenhouse for your tomatoes you’ll need:
To put the temporary greenhouse together, first, insert the PVC pipes into the ground. Then, put your plastic sheet over the pipes and secure it using clips or strong zip ties.
If you believe wind will be a concern, anchor the greenhouse into the ground firmly.
If the inside of the greenhouse ever gets too warm or humid, leave a small opening somewhere in the sheet to ensure adequate airflow and temperature regulation.
2 – Use Special Plant Covers
Frost cloths and frost blankets made specially to protect plants from frost damage can be a useful addition to your gardening arsenal.
Covering up your tomato plants with these special covers means chances of frost damage are minimized and light still reaches the plant since the covers are usually made with a mesh material.
At nighttime, when the frost risk is high, simply cover up your tomato plants with the frost blanket and remove it in the morning when the sun is shining bright.
3- Apply Mulch
Applying a decently thick layer of mulch around your tomato plants can act as insulation for the soil.
This mitigates any chances of frost reaching the roots and damaging them.
The insulating effect from the mulch also helps to maintain temperature and keep the soil slightly warm from the inside.
4 – Set Up Wind Barriers
If strong wind is a concern and often expected in your area, setting up wind barriers can be a great way to prevent physical damage that wind can cause to your tomato plants.
To install these barriers, simply set up a few posts around your garden and attach fence netting or burlap to these posts securely using nails, clips, or strong zip ties.
Ensure your wind barrier actually stands in the direction of the wind though as, otherwise, it would be…well…pointless.
5 – If All Fails, Bring The Plants Indoors
Yep…it’s inevitable…
If the frost can’t be fought or the wind is too strong, you will eventually have to bring the plant indoors. If the frost lasts for an extended period of time, you can only protect your plants from it for so long.
If you have your tomato plants in pots, that’s good – just move them indoors. If they’re planted in garden soil, you will have to dig them out with roots intact and transplant them into large pots and containers temporarily.
However, this route should only be taken as a last resort as hundreds of things can go wrong when transplanting and moving plants.
The process places a great deal of stress on them and it’s a lot of work too.
Final Words
Every new gardener loves gardening until he/she figures out how damaging frost and seasonal change can be for the crops. But, it’s not the end of the world.
With the right strategies and carefulness, you can combat early frost and wind and make it out of this dreadful phase with healthy, fruitful tomato plants.
