Protecting School Gardens from Freezing Temperatures

School gardens can be a wonderful way to teach students about sustainability, nature, and the importance of fresh produce. When it comes to protecting your school garden from frost or freezing temperatures, using freeze cloth can be a simple and effective solution. Freeze cloth is a breathable fabric that can help insulate plants and protect them from the cold.

To use freeze cloth in your school garden, simply drape it over the plants you want to protect before a frost or freeze is expected. Make sure the cloth reaches all the way to the ground to trap heat and prevent cold air from reaching the plants. Remember to remove the freeze cloth during the day to allow sunlight and air to reach the plants.

By using freeze cloth in your school garden, you can help extend the growing season, protect delicate plants, and ensure that your students can continue to learn from and enjoy the garden throughout the colder months. It’s a simple and eco-friendly way to care for your garden and promote a love of nature in your school community.

In January, we had a major freeze in which temperatures were in the 15 degree range. We are near Austin, Texas so this is not typical weather for us.  It was cold.  We had many winter tolerant vegetables planted, but we were worried that they would not make it so we covered them with freeze cloth.  It’s so fun to watch students take the task of saving the veggies so seriously.  Students worked to harvest the vegetables that were ready to harvest and then we covered the rest.  We were excited to see that many of our vegetables survived the freeze.    

 

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