Loose straw or fallen leaves can insulate plants from freezing temperatures as well. If plant cell damaging freezing temperatures accompany snow, protect crops with mulch, plastic tunnels, or cold frames. For us with a first frost date of October 14, the cut-off date for oats is September 7. If possible add a legume (soy and spring peas are easy, and will be killed by the frost, so they won’t complicate food crops next year). The flavor of some of these, such as collards and parsnips, is, in. If the area is clear of vegetable crops by 40-60 days before frost,sow oats to winter-kill. These include beets, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collards, green onions, potatoes, Bibb and leaf lettuce, mustard, parsnips, radishes, salsify, spinach, and Swiss chard. Parsnips and Brussels sprouts will taste sweeter after being covered by snow. Semi-hardy vegetables are those which can survive repeated light frosts in the 3032F range. Onions can remain in the garden under snow if a protective layer of mulch lies in between. Scallions and fall leeks to the size of scallions can be harvested from under snow. A killing frost or freeze will do more damage to winter vegetables than snow.Ĭarrots, turnips, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage, chard, and head lettuce can be harvested from under a blanket of snow. Snow will insulate winter crops from freezing temperatures and protect them until harvest. Snow on the winter vegetable garden does not mean the end of harvest.

Will frost kill carrot seedlings