Sub-Freezing Temperatures Expected: First Frost Warning for Local Crops and Vegetation.
WIFR – Sub-freezing temperatures, dipping as low as 27 degrees, are forecasted overnight on Tuesday, October 15. These conditions could pose significant risks to crops and other vegetation.
Alex Mills, the executive director of Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, emphasizes the need for preparedness. “We are getting ready because the frost is coming, one way or another,” he said.
Such low temperatures can quickly affect even the most skilled gardeners and abruptly end the growing season. Mills explains, “A frost this time of year can harm sensitive plants. This includes plants you have on your deck, around your home, or in your garden.”
The first frost in the stateline is particularly damaging to local vegetation. However, this year’s first frost may arrive later than usual, according to experts.
Research indicates that the growing season has lengthened over the past 30 years. On average, the gap between the last spring frost and the first fall frost has extended by nine days.
Duane Friend, a climate specialist with the University of Illinois Extension, notes that this change can benefit both farmers and gardeners. “Flowers can last longer, and various plants benefit from this extended season,” Friend stated. “For crops, especially double-crop soybeans, the later frost date allows them to grow longer.”
Friend cautions that the effects of frost can vary depending on the plant type. To mitigate damage, he recommends covering plants with containers or sheets to retain heat.
“If plants are somewhat frost-tolerant, a short exposure to cold won’t harm them significantly; they should recover,” he explained. “However, more sensitive plants may suffer even from a slight chill.”
Experts also advise caution when bringing plants indoors. It may be wise to delay returning them outside due to the possibility of another frost night.
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