Schools are closing, grocery stores are packed, and temperatures are dropping. As the temperatures begin to drop, it's essential to prepare your garden and home for the impending freeze. Since it will be dropping down into the teens in Northeast Georgia, these are temperatures that we (or our plants) are not typically used to.
Follow our checklist with these essential tips are tricks to survive a freeze and the temperatures drop.
Harvesting and Protecting Plants
Harvesting Produce: We go through and look at harvesting our tender vegetables or herbs from the garden before the cold snap arrives. Our Butter Crunch lettuce will not be able to handle these low temperatures so we will be harvesting all of it. This ensures that we can enjoy the fruits of our labor and prevents the loss of valuable crops to cold temperatures. If you live in Northeast Georgia and would like some lettuce - message or email to come pick up!
Covering Plants: Use frost blankets, row covers, or even old bedsheets to protect delicate plants from frost damage. These covers are secured to the ground to trap heat and create a protective barrier against the cold.
Bring Plants Inside: If you have any plotted plants - bring them inside! We bring our potted herbs inside.
Soil and Garden Maintenance
Mulching: For our blueberries, we applied a thick layer of mulch around the base to insulate the soil and protect their root systems from freezing. This helps maintain soil moisture and provides an additional layer of warmth.
Watering: Moist soil retains heat better than dry soil, offering some protection to plant roots during cold spells. To read more about water before a freeze, read our blog post here.
Ensuring Infrastructure Resilience
Stockpile Firewood: As the temperature drops, having an ample supply of firewood becomes essential for us. We stockpile firewood to keep our fireplace running, ensuring warmth and comfort for our household.
Outdoor Water: We turn off all outdoor water, making sure pipes are free of water and drain outdoor water lines and hoses.
Embracing Homestead Activities
Baking and Preserving: Winter meant to slow down and embrace the coziness of the season. We bake bread, prepare hearty soups, and preserve some of our harvest through canning and pickling. These are all perfect meals if the power goes out and can be easily heated over a fire.
By taking these proactive measures, you can safeguard your garden and home for a potential freeze or power outage. Embrace the opportunity to nurture your garden and home to ensure its resilience in the face of fluctuating temperatures.
Remember to stay attentive to weather forecasts and adjust your protective measures accordingly. With thoughtful planning and care, you can endure the winter chill and emerge vibrant and thriving when spring returns.
Stay warm out there! - The Arrows Farm