When should I start covering my plants?

Author: Prof. Camryn Mills  |  Last update: Sunday, August 31, 2025

Starting in mid to late September, it is beneficial to watch the forecast and take note of forecasted low overnight temperatures. Once temperatures dip to the mid-30s °F, it will be necessary to take action by bringing plants indoors, covering plants, or utilizing cold frames and hoop tunnels.

At what point should I cover my plants?

When there's extreme heat or too much sunshine, put out garden covers by mid-morning and leave them on throughout the hottest part of the day. Either remove the shade covers in the evening when the temperatures start to drop or leave them on during the entire heat wave.

Are my plants ok outside at 40 degrees?

When do I know it's safe to bring my plant outside? It's safe to move your plants outside when the outdoor temperatures stay consistently above 50°F. Pay attention to the weather report. If nighttime temperatures are set to fall below 50°F, bring your plants in for the night.

Will plants freeze at 35 degrees?

Freeze Warning - This is issued when there is at least an 80% chance that the temperature will hit 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Light freeze - 29° to 32° Fahrenheit will kill tender plants. Moderate freeze - 25° to 28° Fahrenheit is widely destructive to most vegetation.

When should I start cover crops?

Timing is key for cover crops, Andrews said. Plant seeds of overwintering cover crops by September or early October before the weather turns too cold and wet for them to germinate and get established. Make sure when you plant that the seed has good contact with the soil.

When Should I Cover My Plants?

Do cover crops increase yield?

Farmers who planted corn in a field following a cover crop had a 3.1 percent increase in yield compared to side-by-side fields with no cover crops. Likewise, soybean yields increased 4.3 percent following cover crops, according to the survey.

When should I start topping my plants?

When should plants be topped and trained? Topping coincides with the vegetative stage, when young plants launch into aggressive leaf and stem growth. Most growers wait until the plant has six or seven leaf nodes along a sturdy stem. Then the central growing stalk is pruned back to remove the entire central growing tip.

What plants need to be covered at 40 degrees?

First, it's good to know which plants are sensitive to temps around 35 or 40 degrees F. These are common tender plants that will need some protection. Hanging baskets: begonias, calibrachoa, gerbera, impatiens, vinca, euphorbia, and scoparia.

Will plants be OK at 37 degrees?

Seedlings, with their tender new leaves, often give up the ghost when temperatures dip to 32-33°F. Tropical plants have differing low-temperature thresholds. Some keel over when temps fall to 40°F; others crumble at 35°F. Other plants are just hardy by nature and can withstand temperatures as low as 18-20°F.

Can plants survive one night of frost?

A light frost may cause minimal damage while a severe frost may kill plants. Young, vulnerable plants are much more susceptible to a light freeze, which occurs when temperatures are 29 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, while mature plants may only suffer from short-term effects.

What overnight temperature is too cold for plants?

There are, of course, many variables that can affect winter hardiness in a plant, but in general, my rule of thumb is as long as the mercury stays in the 20's at night and rises above freezing during the day, our plants should be just fine.

Will cucumbers survive 40 degrees?

Cucumbers are heat-sensitive and do best in temperatures between 60-90°F (16-32°C). They can tolerate some heat but will become stressed if temperatures exceed 95°F (35°C). Cucumbers can also be damaged by frost and temperatures below 50°F (10°C).

What is the lowest temperature to leave plants outside?

There is no universal temperature for all plants that is too cold, so that is why it is important to do your research. However, it is safe to say if living in an environment with harsh winters and temperatures below 20°F, it is always wise to bring plants indoors during this time, if possible.

Is it too early to put my plants outside?

Grown under the marginal conditions of most homes and apartments, houseplants can become tired-looking during the winter months. You can renew your plants by moving them outdoors during the summer. Put your plants out only after night temperatures remain above 60°F (usually mid-May or early June).

How do you tell if it will frost overnight?

This is a very important question to ask yourself. A rule of thumb: If the dew point is above 45 degrees at sunset then you are probably OK. Below 40 degrees you will probably see a frost if the other conditions are good.

Will my plants survive 40 degrees?

Each plant has a different threshold when it comes to dealing with the cold. Some plants can survive outside even when temperatures hit freezing. Others need to be brought indoors when temperatures reach the mid-40s. Be sure you know this before you plant.

Can peppers survive 40 degree nights?

So will peppers survive 40 degrees? To sum it up, most peppers won't necessarily DIE from 40˚ F temperatures, but their growth can be stunted, and they may be slow to recover so it's best to keep them warm if possible.

When to cover outside plants?

Starting in mid to late September, it is beneficial to watch the forecast and take note of forecasted low overnight temperatures. Once temperatures dip to the mid-30s °F, it will be necessary to take action by bringing plants indoors, covering plants, or utilizing cold frames and hoop tunnels.

What is a killing frost temperature?

A "killing frost" is now considered to be a temperature of 28°F in the United States, but in 1916, the type of frost was determined by the level of damage incurred.

Can I cover plants with garbage bags for one night?

If you're looking for tips for protecting your plants from frost, avoid using garbage bags as plant covers. Trash bags are not the best protection against frost damage, primarily due to their material. Most garbage bags are made out of low-density polyethylene plastic.

Is 41 too cold for annuals?

H2 Rating - 34 to 41° F (1 to 5 C)

Overall, these annuals are the most delicate of all the hardy annuals - one might call them half-hardy since they are really only hardy into the few temperatures just above freezing. And it's important to NOT let them freeze.

Do I need to cover tomato plants at 40 degrees?

It's sunny again… wait… ), but some vegetables won't be happy (and grow into incredibly prolific tomato producers - yes, I'm talking to you, tomato fanatics) if you don't protect them until night temperatures warm up consistently to 50 degrees and above.

How tall should a plant be before topping?

Indica plants tend to have very short internodes, as these plants are short and squat. Sativa plants, which are taller, have a longer internode. For topping cannabis, you want to have at least four nodes and preferably six-eight nodes. This is a general rule.

When should I start hardening my plants?

In general, begin the hardening process 7-10 days before the date you intend to plant them out in your garden and once the danger of frost has passed. If your growing zone generally recommends that starts don't go outdoors until the last week of May, begin hardening seedlings a little more than a week before.

When to start low stress training?

You can start low-stress training at any point in the vegetative state, but the later you start, the less dramatic your results will be. Ideally, start low-stress training the moment your plant's stems and shoots are long enough to tie down. They should be sturdy enough to endure manipulation without being harmed.

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