Michigan just rolled out a frost advisory, and gardeners are rushing because some plants won’t stand a chance once the temperature drops.
That kind of cold sneaks in fast, turning healthy leaves limp and damaged before the sun even comes up again.
People are grabbing blankets, buckets, and anything they can find to shield their most vulnerable plants before the clock hits midnight.
A quick cover tonight could be the difference between a thriving garden tomorrow and a yard full of frost-bitten surprises.
1. Tomato Plants
Tomatoes are one of the most popular garden vegetables across Michigan, but they absolutely cannot handle cold temperatures below thirty-two degrees without suffering major damage.
The leaves will turn black and mushy after just one night of frost exposure, and any green tomatoes still on the vine will stop ripening properly.
Covering your tomato plants with old bedsheets, blankets, or special garden fabric creates a protective barrier that traps warmth from the soil underneath.
Make sure the covering reaches all the way to the ground and is secured with rocks or stakes so wind cannot blow it away during the night.
Michigan gardeners should remove the coverings in the morning once temperatures rise above freezing to prevent overheating and allow sunlight to reach the plants.
If you have many tomatoes still green on the vine, this extra effort tonight will let them continue maturing for several more weeks of harvest.
2. Pepper Plants
Bell peppers, jalapeños, and other pepper varieties grown throughout Michigan are extremely sensitive to cold weather and will suffer immediately when frost arrives unexpectedly.
Even a light frost can cause the pepper plant leaves to wilt and turn pale, which stops the plant from producing any more peppers for the season.
Gardeners who cover their pepper plants tonight will protect both the foliage and any peppers still growing, ensuring they can continue harvesting for several additional weeks.
Use lightweight materials like row covers or old cotton sheets that allow some air circulation while still providing insulation against the freezing temperatures expected overnight.
Avoid using plastic directly on the plants because it conducts cold and can actually cause more damage where it touches the leaves in Michigan’s frosty conditions.
Supporting the covering with stakes or tomato cages keeps the fabric from resting directly on the pepper foliage, which provides better protection and prevents crushing delicate branches.
3. Basil
Fresh basil adds amazing flavor to countless dishes, but this tender herb is among the first plants to show damage when temperatures drop near freezing in Michigan gardens.
Basil leaves will turn black and slimy within hours of frost exposure, making the entire plant unusable and ending your fresh herb supply for the year.
Covering basil plants before midnight is absolutely essential if you want to continue harvesting fresh leaves for cooking throughout the coming weeks ahead.
Because basil grows well in containers, Michigan gardeners can also simply bring potted basil indoors for the night and return it outside once warmer weather returns.
For garden-planted basil, drape a light blanket or sheet over the plants and secure the edges with stones to create a warm microclimate underneath.
Another option is harvesting all your basil tonight before the frost arrives, then making pesto or drying the leaves to preserve the harvest for future use.
4. Impatiens
Impatiens are beloved shade-loving flowers that brighten up gardens across Michigan with their cheerful blooms, but they have zero tolerance for freezing temperatures and frost conditions.
A single night of frost will turn these beautiful flowers into brown, droopy messes that cannot recover, effectively ending their blooming season immediately.
Michigan homeowners who take a few minutes to cover their impatiens tonight can enjoy several more weeks of colorful flowers before the first hard freeze arrives.
Lightweight garden fabric works perfectly for impatiens because it allows moisture to escape while still trapping heat around the plants throughout the cold night ahead.
If your impatiens are growing in hanging baskets or containers, simply move them into a garage, porch, or any sheltered area where temperatures stay above freezing.
For ground-planted impatiens, gently drape sheets over the flowers and anchor them securely, being careful not to crush the delicate blooms underneath the protective covering material.
5. Cucumber Plants
Cucumbers thrive in warm weather and produce abundantly throughout Michigan summers, but they react very poorly to cold temperatures and cannot survive even light frost exposure.
When frost touches cucumber leaves, they quickly turn yellow and wilted, and the vines stop producing new cucumbers entirely for the remainder of the growing season.
Protecting cucumber plants tonight means you can continue harvesting crisp, fresh cucumbers for salads and pickles for potentially several more weeks depending on weather patterns.
Cover cucumber vines completely with blankets or tarps, making sure to tuck the edges around the base of the plants to trap warm air rising from the soil.
Michigan gardeners should check that their coverings are secure because windy conditions often accompany frost advisories, and exposed plants will suffer damage quickly overnight.
Remove the protective coverings tomorrow morning after temperatures rise above freezing so the cucumber plants can photosynthesize and continue growing under the warming autumn sunshine.
6. Begonias
Begonias bring stunning color to Michigan gardens with their bright flowers and attractive foliage, but these tropical plants cannot tolerate cold temperatures below freezing at all.
Frost will quickly damage both the flowers and leaves of begonias, turning them brown and mushy, which ruins their appearance and stops future blooming completely.
Covering begonias before midnight protects your investment and keeps these beautiful plants thriving and flowering for additional weeks until a harder freeze eventually arrives in Michigan.
For potted begonias, the easiest solution is bringing them indoors overnight or placing them in a garage where temperatures remain above the freezing point.
Garden-planted begonias need covering with frost cloth, old sheets, or blankets that extend all the way to the ground and are weighted down to prevent shifting.
Many Michigan gardeners choose to dig up their favorite begonias before frost season begins, potting them to grow indoors as houseplants throughout the long winter months.
7. Coleus
Coleus plants are grown primarily for their spectacular multicolored foliage that adds visual interest to shaded areas throughout Michigan gardens during the warm growing season.
These tropical plants have absolutely no cold tolerance, and frost will turn their beautiful leaves into blackened mush that collapses overnight when temperatures drop too low.
Michigan gardeners who protect their coleus tonight can preserve these stunning foliage plants for several more weeks of outdoor color and visual appeal in their landscapes.
Covering coleus with lightweight fabric or sheets creates a protective barrier against frost while still allowing the plants to breathe and avoid moisture buildup underneath.
Because coleus grows easily from cuttings, many people in Michigan choose to snip off healthy stems before frost arrives and root them indoors for next year.
Container-grown coleus can simply be moved into protected areas like porches or garages overnight, then returned outside once morning temperatures rise safely above the freezing mark.
8. Zucchini Plants
Zucchini plants are prolific producers that can overwhelm Michigan gardeners with abundant harvests, but they are very sensitive to cold and will stop producing after frost exposure.
The large leaves of zucchini plants will wilt and turn black when frost settles on them overnight, and any small squash still developing will stop growing.
Covering your zucchini plants tonight gives them the chance to continue producing for your kitchen, potentially adding many more squash to your harvest over the coming weeks.
Use large blankets or tarps to cover the sprawling zucchini vines completely, securing the edges with rocks or boards to keep cold air from sneaking underneath.
Michigan gardeners should support the covering material with stakes or cages to prevent it from crushing the tender zucchini flowers and young fruit developing on the vines.
Tomorrow morning, remove the coverings promptly once temperatures rise so the plants can access sunlight and pollinators can visit the flowers to ensure continued fruit production.
9. Marigolds
Marigolds are cheerful, easy-to-grow flowers that brighten Michigan gardens from spring through fall, but they cannot withstand freezing temperatures despite their hardy appearance and reputation.
Frost will cause marigold flowers to brown and wilt, and the foliage will turn dark and limp, effectively ending the blooming season for these popular annuals.
Taking time to cover marigolds tonight allows Michigan gardeners to enjoy their bright orange and yellow blooms for several additional weeks before winter truly arrives.
Lightweight row covers or old bedsheets work perfectly for protecting marigolds from frost while still allowing air circulation around the plants throughout the cold night.
If your marigolds are growing in pots or containers, simply move them to a protected location like a covered porch or garage where freezing temperatures will not reach.
Many gardeners in Michigan plant marigolds specifically because they bloom reliably until frost, so protecting them tonight maximizes the value and enjoyment from these hardworking flowering plants.
10. Bean Plants
Bean plants produce delicious pods that are perfect for fresh eating or preserving, but both bush beans and pole beans are extremely vulnerable to frost damage overnight.
When frost settles on bean foliage, the leaves quickly turn brown and papery, and any beans still developing on the vines will stop growing and may become damaged.
Covering bean plants before midnight tonight protects your remaining harvest and allows you to pick fresh beans for several more weeks throughout the Michigan autumn season.
Drape lightweight blankets or frost cloth over the bean plants, making sure to cover the entire plant from top to bottom for complete protection against freezing.
Michigan gardeners should secure the covering material at ground level to trap warm air rising from the soil, which creates an insulated environment around the bean plants.
Remove the coverings in the morning once temperatures climb back above freezing so the bean plants can access sunlight and continue photosynthesizing to support additional pod development.