IN THE GARDEN: Frost tolerant vs. frost susceptible

For fall gardening, it is important to know which vegetables are frost tolerant and which are frost susceptible.

First off, what’s the difference between frost tolerant and frost susceptible? A frost-susceptible vegetable/fruit/crop will be killed or injured by temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service . A frost-tolerant vegetable/fruit/crop can withstand temperatures below 32 degrees. ( NOTE: Most frost-tolerant plants will likely survive light to moderate frosts but could be damaged or killed by exposure to frost and temperatures below 25 degrees.)

For ease of gardening, we advise grouping your long-term frost-tolerant vegetables together and your short-term frost-susceptible plants together. That way, when your short-term frost