Too soon for frost?
How are your tomatoes? Many were lost earlier this week. Tuesday morning was a frosty one from Edmundston, N.B., to Winterland, N.L. I didn’t have the keys out of my office door when a co-worker came up to me and said, “Isn’t this early?”
Well, that depends on where you live. Some regions have already experienced frost, while others are not expecting frost for a couple more weeks.
It goes without saying that coastal areas are usually the last to be kissed by frost while low-lying areas away from large bodies of water are often the first. It varies a little from year to year, but on average, the first frost usually comes very close to the average first-frost dates you’ll find below.
NEW BRUNSWICK: Edmundston September 18 Fredericton September 22 Grand Falls September 24 Bathurst September 26 Moncton September 27 Saint John October 4
NOVA SCOTIA:
Shelburne September 29 Kentville October 5 Sydney October 13 Yarmouth October 18 Halifax October 20
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Charlottetown October 9 Summerside October 19
NEWFOUNDLAND/ LABRADOR:
LabradorCity September7 St Anthony September 26 Gander September 30 Deer Lake October 12 St John’s October 12 Stephenville October 13
The other day, someone asked if this was a record short growing season. I did some research and found it is not; however, it has been an abbreviated one.
For example, the average number of frost-free days in
Kentville, N.S., is 134. This season – with frost on June 4th and again this past Tuesday morning – the number is down by 22, to only 112 frost free days.
While frost is not something most gardeners look forward to, my mom embraced the first frost.
She wouldn’t pick the turnips from the garden until a light frost had passed. She claims the frost sweetened the turnip!