Eggplant Frost Protection Again? How to Prevent Damage Saint George Court Gardens, Linda Maintanis

It seems like we started the year the same way. Back in early May I posted on Saint George Court about the frost warnings and how I protected my eggplant from damage. Sheets of bubble wrap were gently secured around the small plants with a tab of scotch tape.

 

This time, this past fall, I found the plants needed frost protection once again. A warm, sunny September had allowed another heavy crop of around fifteen or more eggplants to set up. 

But by the middle of October I was watching the temperatures each night with keen eyes. The days were still so glorious; strong sunshine that still branded pink cheeks. And this crop was a bit small, they could use every extra day of growth. So I left them on the vine. 

When temperatures dropped below forty degrees I conceived a plan. A cocoon of sorts, like a tent/greenhouse, to protect them from a freeze. My first idea was to drape a tarp around them, that was too heavy, and actually would have trapped condensate inside. So I kept the concept with one modification; cotton sheets. They would breathe and trap ground heat at the same time. Perfect.

The sheets were draped over the stakes at dusk. Tucked under the drooping eggplants, they formed a breatheable cocoon. Able to trap warmth but exchange moisture to avoid condensation.

 
It worked! I was finally forced to harvest this bowl of eggplants on November 1,2013.
They were definitely worth the effort, a very nice Halloween "treat". Try some of these recipes with your own crop, Minto Island.

Governor Francis Farms Gardens Grow Bigger and Better Saint George Court, Warwick, RI

Seriously? I never expected my tomatoes to outgrow this years' innovative new stake system. With about six and a half feet of stake above ground I thought that my tomatoes would never make it to the top. Instead I find myself at the end of the pole, literally.

As you can see here the Costoluto Genovese tomatoes, near the cucumbers at the right rear,  and the Yellow Pear tomatoes, at the forward end, have reached the top of their stakes.

We measured today and have recorded SEVEN feet and four inches! HOLY TOMATO!

Let me give you a few points of reference. The eggplant in the front, left corner is about 34".
And the frame of the raised bed, by the cobblestone pavers is close to a foot, at 10".

Do the deductive reasoning.

The cucumbers at the other end of the beds were planted in boxed cages. There are nine of them total and we have picked about a dozen cukes so far. Check the Food for Thought blog soon for ways to use cucumbers!

Eggplant progress is much better this week. There are five trees and each one has some heavy produce setting up.

Saint George Court Warwick, RI - Governor Francis Farms The Italian Tomatoes Top Six Feet Tall!

We planted nine tomato plants in our raised beds. Additionally there are four more nearby including some Black Cherries. Of the nine there are two San Marzano, two Black Krim, two Costoluto Genovese, one Lemon Boy, one Yellow Pear and one Early Girl. Below you see the baby Yellow Pears forming a string on one of many stems.

This past week the C.Genovese had climbed past the six-foot mark to
six feet and nine inches, and was still growing; to where though? These Italian heirlooms were purchased from Williams-Sonoma with the Black Krim and San Marzano. And while both of those are at a strong five feet tall, they somehow seem dwarfed next to their
leggy cousins.

Elsewhere in the garden there are just about a million cucumbers growing on the nine caged vines. Some are ready to pick today.


by Linda Maintanis