How to Keep Vegetable Plants from Dying in Cold Weather

Water vegetable plants in the evening before dark with a garden hose or watering can. Saturate the soil evenly around the plants because the moist soil will help to keep the air around the plants warmer than it would be otherwise.

Position wood stakes about 6 to 8 inches away from vegetable plants, and pound the stakes about about 4 to 6 inches into the soil with a hammer. That depth should make them sturdy and strong. If you have a row of vegetables to protect, drive wood stakes along both sides of the row, spacing them about 2 feet apart.

Place a blanket, piece of burlap or plastic tarp around and over the stakes, and staple the material to the stakes with a staple gun to create a tent over the stakes and plants. An alternative is to position pieces of thin cardboard or newspaper over the stakes, and staple the cardboard or newspaper to the stakes. Anchor the tent material on the soil with large rocks or bricks to prevent drafts.

Invert buckets or cardboard boxes over vegetable plants to protect them from freezing temperatures. Place large rocks or bricks on top of the buckets or boxes to keep them from blowing away.

Cut the bottom 1 inch off plastic 1-gallon milk jugs using a sharp knife or scissors. Place one milk jug over each vegetable plant, pushing the plastic jug into the soil gently to anchor the jug around the plant.

Remove the protective covering from the vegetable plants after the sun rises and the temperature climbs above about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.