By Katie Markheim, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
How low can it go? You might ask about the temperature. A general rule of thumb in Nebraska is the first autumn frost is often followed by a two-to-three-week span of warmer weather. When temperatures dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, cover tender top crops with blankets, sheets, buckets, or newspapers. Covering plants keeps the ground heat around the plants. Following a freeze, uncover plants after temperatures rise above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Root crops are hardy and can withstand the frost, being kept in the ground through fall. Upon the first killing frost, mulch these crops with a heavy layer of straw. Temporarily remove the mulch to harvest throughout the winter.