Frost Friendly Plants and Veggies

Whilst Johannesburg winters are mild and sunny during the day, the nights can be very cold. If temperatures drop below freezing on a night when there's little cloud cover or wind, then normal white frost occurs. This happens when the dew on the leaves freezes and is seen as white crystals coating the plants, which may cause damage to the cells of the plants.

Black frost occurs on nights when the air is too dry for dew to form and to be converted into ice crystals which leaves plants blackened.

If you want to keep your garden plants and vegetables frost-safe this winter, then it is best to choose these wisely. If you haven't already started preparing your garden for winter, then your local nursery is bound to have an array of frost-friendly choices ready for instant planting. 

Here are some suggestions to consider:

Shrubs

Shrubs provide pleasing colour and height in your garden.

Anisodontia scabarosa (Pink Mallow): is an easy to grow, smallish, evergreen, indigenous shrub with delicate pink flowers, likes sun or semi-shade and is a magnet for butterflies and birds.

Freylinia tropica (Blue Honeybell Bush): is a low-maintenance, evergreen, indigenous shrub with smallish blue or white flowers, blooming throughout the year but more profusely in late winter, provides good screenage, makes a good hedge, likes sun or semi-shade and is attractive to insects and butterflies.

Plumbago auriculata (Leadwort): is a fast-growing, easy to maintain, indigenous shrub with a sprawling habit and appealing sky-blue or white flowers, likes sun or semi-shade and is attractive to butterflies and birds.

Bulbs

Bulbs provide much colour and variety in winter gardens and there are so many to choose from  such as:

Daffodils: their yellow flowers and sweet scent will brighten any flower bed, pot or container (or even your indoors in a vase) and they like full sun or light shade.

Anemones: are striking in shades of red, purple, pink and white with double or single flowers, like full sun or dappled shade, give a magnificent display in the flower beds, pots or containers and make excellent cut flowers. 

Ranunculus: are easy to grow, large, double flowers in a range of colours white, pink, orange, red, yellow, purple, and cream, like full sun, preferably in an open position.

Annuals

These plants are seasonal and provide a superb splash of colour in the sometimes grey and gloom of winter.

Cinerarias: are cushion-shaped flowers, some with white centres, in a variety of purple and pink colours, can tolerate light frost, ideal in mass plantings in lightly shaded flower beds, pots or containers.

Iceland Poppies: are magnificent in mass plantings in full sun, usually in mixed and pastel shades of white and orange, bloom from May through July and attract birds, butterflies and bees. 

Pansies and Violas: Pansies prefer full sun while Violas prefer a little more shade, both are ideal for flower beds, pots, containers or hanging baskets and bloom throughout winter into early summer.  They come in colours of yellow, gold, orange, purple, violet, red, white, and even near-black, or very dark purple and Pansies typically show large face-like markings.

Vegetables

Vegetables are of great benefit to our health and well-being and provide versatile options for, and accompaniments to, heart-warming winter meals.

Cauliflower: plant seedlings about 60cm apart in well fertilised soil, don't let the soil dry out and to avoid discolouration of the curd (head of the cauliflower), tie the leaves over it with string, so that sunshine does not reach the curd. 

Spinach: Sow the seeds thinly, 15mm deep in rows 30cm apart, keep them moist and, if the weather isn't too cold, they'll germinate in 5 to 9 days. Keep preparing seeds for an ongoing supply. Pick from July onwards, using the smaller leaves for salads.

Peas: Sow the seeds directly into the ground, about 10 cm apart, ensuring each pea plant can climb up a stake or trellis keep them moist and, when germinated, pick the pods regularly. The more you pick, the more pods will be produced and keep you in supply. To avoid severe frost killing your peas, cover them up if freezing  temperatures are forecasted.

Whatever you choose to plant in your garden, remember that even though they may be frost-friendly, they still need attention and care in our winter.  Remember to apply mulch to keep their roots warm, to apply the recommended fertiliser and water, when needed, in accordance with the water-regulations. Then you are sure to be pleased with, and justly proud of, your winter garden.

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