Most traditional gardens are finished for the season long before the first frost. But an organic garden seems to out-last the traditional ones. Mine does anyway.
You can possibly add another month or two to your growing season if you are an organic gardener in zone 7 like I do and are ready to protect your plants from frost with garden fabric called row covers.
Every week you extend your season, you can enjoy your garden and the food it gives you for one more week, even if it gets cold earlier than usual.
We usually have a light freeze or frost and then have several weeks or longer of beautiful growing-weather. Your snap beans, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants will keep growing as long as the weather stays nice if you cover them with garden fabric (row covers).
Can Green Beans Survive a Frost? Protecting Your Crop from Cold Damage
As a vegetable gardener, you know to expect the unexpected when it comes to weather. A late cold snap or early frost can happen anytime and devastate warm weather crops like green beans But is there hope for green beans after frost hits? Can they survive plummeting temperatures? Understanding how frost affects beans and learning techniques to safeguard plants can make all the difference in saving your harvest
In this article, we’ll explore how susceptible green beans are to frost damage, at what temperatures injury occurs, and most importantly, what you can do as a gardener to defend your crops against cold nights. With some preparation and quick action after frost, you may be able to rescue at least part of your green bean crop.
How Frost Damages Green Bean Plants
Why are green beans so vulnerable to cold temperatures? As a warm season vegetable, the entire green bean plant is prone to injury once the mercury dips near or below freezing. Here’s a closer look at how frost negatively impacts green bean growth:
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Frost crystallization ruptures cell structures. Ice crystals that form on leaves and stems during frost literally shred plant tissue from the inside out. This damage is visible as blackened, wilted vegetation.
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Roots and flowers are very sensitive. The roots anchoring bean plants underground are easily chilled by frozen soil. Frost also kills the delicate blooms needed for pollination and bean production.
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Growth halts. Chilly weather stops photosynthesis and other plant processes in their tracks. This stunts development of fruits.
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Rot diseases increase. Tissue injuries open pathways for bacterial and fungal infections to take hold. Diseased plants decline rapidly.
Even a few hours of sub-freezing temperatures can annihilate an entire crop. The ideal growing climate for green beans ranges from 60-85°F. Once lows drop close to 32°F, plants suffer irreversible damage.
At What Temperature Do Green Beans Freeze?
Knowing exactly when to take protective measures against frost is key to saving your green beans. But how cold is too cold for beans? Here are some key benchmarks:
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Light frost (29-32°F): Possible damage to leaves and flowers but plants may recover if partially protected. Still attempt emergency measures.
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Moderate freeze (25-28°F): More extensive damage likely to all above-ground plants parts. Urgent action needed to try to insulate plants.
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Hard freeze (below 25°F): Severe injury expected. Entire crop loss probable but still try to shield plants.
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Extended freeze: Below-freezing temperatures persisting over many hours make plant survival nearly impossible.
Take note that green beans tolerate cooler air temperatures better than cold ground temps. A frost warning when soil is still relatively warm may spare roots. But frozen earth seals plant death.
Overall, even a couple degrees below 32°F warrants defensive measures. Don’t wait until icy crystals encase plants before taking action. Intervene as soon as frost becomes imminent.
Protecting Green Bean Plants from Frost
Could any part of your green bean crop endure a light spring or fall frost? Possibly, if you implement frost protection tactics promptly at first signs of cold. Various methods can provide a few precious degrees of insulation that make a difference in plant survival. Some strategies to try:
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Cover plants with fabric row covers, tarps, old sheets, etc. Secure edges to trap heat.
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Water soil thoroughly 1-2 days pre-frost to retain more ground warmth.
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Sprinkle plants with water before sunset to allow icy coating to insulate plants.
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Set up strings of outdoor holiday lights under plants. Their warmth can prevent freezing.
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Surround plants with containers of water, milk jugs, glass bottles, etc. to absorb and radiate heat.
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Add a thick layer of mulch over soil to maintain warmth around roots.
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Prune excess foliage after frost so remaining leaves can thaw in sunlight.
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Spray plant leaves with antitranspirants or antidesiccants to limit frost damage.
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Harvest as much of the crop as possible before frost hits. Mature green beans continue ripening off the vine.
Even if fruits freeze, the bean plant itself may regenerate new growth if protected. Don’t pull up seemingly dead vines until signs of recovery are given adequate time. Just a portion of revived bean plants can still allow partial harvests.
Preventing Frost Issues in Future Seasons
While emergency frost intervention can sometimes salvage green beans already growing, avoiding cold snaps altogether is ideal. Use these proactive tactics in your vegetable garden planning:
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Select short-season bean varieties that mature before frosts hit.
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Start bean seeds indoors for a head start on growth.
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Time outdoor sowing 2-3 weeks after final spring frost date.
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Plant beans on south facing slopes or raised beds that warm quicker.
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Use black plastic mulch early in season to absorb heat.
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Have row covers, lights, and other protective devices ready.
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Check weather forecasts frequently and be ready to react.
With diligent frost protection and preparation, it’s possible to harvest green beans despite cool weather. Don’t assume frozen plants are goners. Quick response, the right varieties, and proactive care make bean crops much more likely to push through those frosty nights.
Frost Protection for Plants
The easy way to do that is with garden fabric known as row covers. With lengths of 20, 50, or 100 feet and widths of 6 to 12 feet, it’s easy to find. You can cut it with scissors if you want. There are various kinds for various purposes. This time of year we want the ones that offer protection from frost.
For years I’ve had the kind that gives frost protection for plants down to 28 degrees. I literally have been using it for more than 12 years. (The manufacturers advertise that it will last 2 years, but it just depends on how often you use it and how you care for it.)
It’s time for me to order new fabric (row covers), so I’m ordering the kind that gives frost protection for plants to 24 degrees. More bang for the buck and it enables the garden to go that much longer. And — I’ll use it in the Spring to cover my transplants rather than to have to hold them in pots so long.
How Long Will Row Covers Keep Plants Going?
As long as it doesn’t stay below freezing for more than a few hours, this will get you through a lot of light freezes. For crops that can’t handle cold, it’s probably over when it freezes for three, four, or more hours during the day or night.
During cold weather, row covers made of the same fabric can be used instead of a cold frame for crops that can handle frost, like lettuce, spinach, and kale. You can just drape it over the bed or, better yet, put it over supports like hoops to keep it off the plants. It will keep your greens safe over the winter, and when you’re ready to harvest, you can just pull it back.
How to Freeze Green Beans~Blanching vs. NOT Blanching Comparison!
FAQ
How cold is too cold for green bean plants?
Do green beans need to be covered for frost?
How to protect beans from frost?
Can green beans survive a freeze?
If there is light frostbite, however, there’s a slight chance that your green beans will survive if you follow the instructions provided below. However, if the frost is heavier than anticipated, the crop will not likely survive it. Specifically, a freeze within the temperature range of 29-33 degrees F – will be too cold for the crop.
Can green bean plants survive cold weather?
The best thing you can do is to cover your plants with linens, cardboard, tarps, and other materials of the sort (do not use plastic) to keep the warmer air inside the secluded environment. Frost will indeed damage your green bean plants. They can withstand slightly cooler temperatures but will not tolerate low cold to freezing temperatures.
Will frost damage my green bean plants?
Frost will indeed damage your green bean plants. They can withstand slightly cooler temperatures but will not tolerate low cold to freezing temperatures. Luckily, there are not only ways to attempt to save the plants from frost but to prevent them from taking on damage before the frost happens.
Can you eat green beans after a frost?
Warm or hot season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and green beans may be less desirable after a frost. Frost usually kills peppers and turns them to mush. Tomatoes may or may not be okay; feel them. If they are squishy, bruised, or do not look right, throw them out. Harvest green beans only if they feel firm to the touch.