The Time for Planting 



161 



The average dates 

 of first frosts in au- 

 tumn are shown on the 

 map on page 159. In 

 making this map effort 

 was made to leave the 

 zones the same as in 

 Fig. 88, but the boun- 

 dary lines do not coin- 

 cide, because different 

 localities having the 

 latest killing spring 

 frosts at the same 

 time do not always 

 have the first killing 

 frosts of autumn at 

 the same time. The 

 map, however, aids one 

 in judging the proba- 

 ble date when the first 

 autumn frost will kill 

 garden crops. 



A chart for latest 

 plantings. Knowing 

 the date when killing 

 frosts may be expected 

 and the number of 

 days required for a vegetable to mature, one can de- 

 cide when the latest plantings should be made, or 

 whether the entire growing season is too short for a 

 crop to reach maturity. This information has been ar- 



FIG. 90. Low-growing garden crops may 

 be protected from an early autumn frost 

 by the method shown above. Peach bas- 

 kets or light boxes are inverted at inter- 

 vals along the row, and boards laid on them. 

 Then burlap bags, old mattings or carpets, 

 or any other coverings are spread over the 

 boards. Sometimes the season for vegeta- 

 bles like beans, tomatoes, peppers, and egg- 

 plant can be prolonged for weeks by pro- 

 tecting the plants on the one night of the 

 frost. 



