WADMALAW ISLAND, South Carolina – Officials predict low temperatures to arrive in the Lowcountry on Monday. News 2 spoke with local farmers, who say they are prepared for potential consequences.
The first cold snap of the season may bring temperatures below freezing, causing farmers to prepare to protect their crops. According to experts, farmers may consider covering certain crops and harvesting any fruits that remain from the previous planting season.
“I’m not trying to worry about it until we get a little closer because it’s nothing we can’t handle in a short period of time to cover up what we need to,” said Pete Ambrose, owner of Ambrose Family Farm.
Ambrose stated that at this stage in the season, there are fewer fruits to be concerned about as they approach the weekend due to the changeover to winter crops.
Tomatoes and string beans. “The okra is finished, so we don’t have to worry about it,” Ambrose remarked.
According to experts, while winter crops are robust, the cold can be particularly damaging to some plants. Clemson Extension officials advise against fertilizing or planting until the cold weather has passed.
“They can go down into the low 20s, anything lower than that you’re history,” Ambrose told the audience.
According to Christiana Huss, an urban horticulture agent at Clemson Extension, covering plants can make a difference during a cold spell, allowing crops to spend more time in the warmth.
“They might consider covering them to give them a few more warm hours, so that they grow a bit more this time of year,” Huss told me. “It’s not so much for frost protection as it is for giving them a bit more of head start before they go dormant.”
Ambrose is unconcerned about the projected and slightly earlier-than-usual drop in temperatures. Plants that flourish in frigid temperatures include collard greens, broccoli, and strawberries.
“This shouldn’t be any bad news for our winter crops,” says Huss.
Cold weather will arrive on Monday. The latest podcast from Clemson Extension has further advice on how to prepare fruits and vegetables in the winter.
