It's that time of year. Actually, it's a bit past that time of year but, heck, I rarely get this done on time. And to make it more fun, I may actually be adding some in the ground plants this week.
Anyways, I always run across people asking how to keep sensitive plants alive outside through the winter. Here are a few ideas that I've used over the years that might help you.
One, simple frost covers. I have a collection of purchased ones but you can also use old sheets. Or old fluffy quilts. I say fluffy quilts because it's the air caught in the poly fil that makes those warmer but also be aware that no light will get through to aid in winter/early spring growth. So I'd only use old quilts on stuff that I do not expect any winter growth on and I'd pull them when the weather starts warming up. For the most part I stick with white frost covers or sheets because I'm protecting things that can take a little cold, just not a lot.
The tricks for frost covers is to make sure that they are not touching the plants. So use pvc hoops or fence stakes or even your tomato cages to help hold the cover above the plants. Then layer the sides down with mulch or leaves. Lots of mulch or leaves. The white covers let enough sunlight through to encourage early spring growth and I can typically leave them on until the last frost date.
If you want to help stabilize the temperatures a bit under the covers, then add water filled juice or soda bottles. If you can, dye the water black or spray paint the bottle black. That actually does make a difference of between 5 to 10 degrees but even plain water helps. Then lay the bottles among the plants. They will moderate the temperatures some and can help a lot unless you have multiple hard freeze days in a row. (Not common near me.) They will also boost early spring growth on the plants that are most likely to get going early. If you have a really sensitive plant, put a ring of bottles around it. I've had many sensitive plants make it through the winter in such a ring, even in a colder zone than I'm in now. And it's a whole lot easier to do then filling those wall of water things.
Do not use milk jugs or vinegar jugs for this. Both of them will disintegrate by the time spring hits and make a mess to clean out of the garden. The jugs will fall apart as you go to pull them. But, if it's all you have, then just be aware and have a garbage bag on hand for spring. I have to say, it does make a good way to make sure that the jugs will break down at the landfill because they'll already be halfway there before they get to the landfill.
If you have something super sensitive, or you are in colder climes, there is one more trick that you can use. That trick is the old incandescent outdoor Christmas lights. When used with a frost cover, the old style lights can create a warmer zone to hold off the frost which is so damaging. Just remember, make sure the frost cover isn't touching the plant. And make sure the lights aren't touching the frost cover. If you are protecting trees you might consider just leaving the lights year round and maybe adding new lights in the fall, on new growth, if needed. Otherwise, set up the rig when it's time and take it all off when the season is once again safe for the plant. Note, this is not something you can do with the quilts. It must be a frost cover.
Other than that, pull the dead plants, mulch under any beds you aren't using for the winter season, and go plot next year. Make sure to plot early this year. Apparently gardening has become a major national hobby again and seeds are going fast.
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