First Frost Checklist: What to Harvest, Cover, and Bring Inside

Welcome to the Garden Talk podcast! Today we’re talking about a first frost checklist—what to do as the nights start getting chilly, even before you actually see frost on the ground. Susan and Sarah share what they’re doing right now with temps dipping into the low 40s: picking green tomatoes that are starting to turn, bringing basil inside (because cold makes it drop leaves fast), and getting tender plants ready to move before the weather turns. We also talk about an important reminder: it’s not only frost that can hurt your garden—cold temperatures alone can damage tender plants, change flavor, and slow growth. So this is your sign to start preparing now. In this episode, we cover: Why you should prep before the first frost hits What to harvest that won’t “bounce back” (tomatoes, basil, peppers, cucumbers) Bringing potted herbs inside (or into a garage/sheltered spot) Using sheets or frost cloth to protect plants that can keep growing Watering earlier in the day so plants aren’t wet going into cold nights How Susan ripens green tomatoes with newspaper in flats A simple idea for creating a protected “mini greenhouse” space with plastic Bonus: saving dill seed and thinking ahead to cozy fall cooking Quick tip: Your frost date is different depending on where you live—look up your area’s average first frost date so you’re not caught off guard. That’s all for this episode of the Garden Talk podcast! Tell us in the comments: what are you protecting this week—and what was your best harvest this season? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, share, and comment below.