Frost Which Does Not Kill Vegetables Can Only Make Them Tastier
The fall frosts have begun where I live, and many plants are dying back as a result of the colder temperatures. But some things are getting better...
It is well into October, and the air now has that nice, earthy, fall smell. The signs of seasonal change are everywhere: leaves are changing color and falling from trees; many plants are turning brown and dying back; and frost is becoming a regular sight on the lawn in the morning. Frost means cold nights and colder days ahead - but it can also mean tastier vegetables, because many greens and root vegetables are made sweeter by cold temperatures.
Greens
Some greens are totally obliterated by frost - like the callaloo that I grew this past summer. By contrast, cold-tolerant greens taste better because frost triggers a chemical change that allows them to protect themselves from freezing temperatures. This process is known as "cold sweetening”.
Cold sweetening happens when starches are converted into sugars that work like antifreeze to protect plant cells from damage. Ever notice how frozen jam is not really “frozen” like ice? That’s the high sugar content. Of course, the increased sugar content also makes the greens taste better.
Many greens also produce less bitter substances when it gets cold. Greens make a range of chemicals (e.g. glucosinolates, alkaloids, tannins, acids) that can make them taste bitter. Colder temperatures can cause a reduction in the production of these chemicals - so the greens taste less bitter.
Root vegetables
Frost can also make make root vegetables taste better. There is the cold-sweetening process - but there are other processes at play as well that result in better flavor.
As mentioned above, root vegetables go through a process of cold sweetening when they are exposed to cold temperatures that converts starches to sugars. Cold-tolerant root vegetables do this to varying degrees. For example - parsnips reliably survive the winter when left in the ground all winter long where I live, whereas carrots reliably turn to mush the following spring. It is also the case that the growth of root vegetable greens slows down when it gets cold. This means that more sugars are being stored in the roots rather than being used for vegetative growth. Finally, the colder weather causes a reduction in the water content of root vegetables - thereby resulting in a concentration of flavor.
It’s different for each plant
The effect of cold-sweeting is different for each plant. For instance, I find that carrots are improved by frost and cold, but are still very good before the frosts start happening. By contrast, I really don’t enjoy parsnips until after frosts start happening, and tend to leave them in the ground right up until the ground starts to freeze for maximum effect - at which point I find that they are even sweeter than carrots.
Cold-sweeting can also affect different varieties of a given plant. For instance, I have grown many varieties of Swiss Chard and found them all to be quite bitter prior tot he fall frosts. This year I grew a new variety called “Fire Fresh” - and found them to be fantastic all summer long. I can’t wait to try them now that its getting cold!
Final thoughts
It is October, and I still have a whole bunch of greens and root vegetables in the garden - and that is exactly where most of them will stay for weeks - because they are getting better every time the temperature gets close to freezing. For now, I will just harvest plants as I need them because we are still not getting frost every day. When that starts happening I will get a little more industrious, and start gradually bringing in everything but the parsnips and sunchokes (they are indestructible). When the ground starts to freeze - that is the final deadline - there are no extensions. Everything has to come out or it will get frozen in - and even the toughest greens will start to degrade because they cannot draw up water from the ground when the ground is frozen. Procrastination is rarely viewed as a virtue. I personally struggle with it a lot in virtually every aspect of my life. So what a pleasant gift it is to have one set of tasks that rewards procrastination!
FREE SHIPPING FROM VESEYS SEEDS
Use my coupon code “GAVS24” to get free shipping from Veseys Seeds. At least one pack of seeds must be included in the order. Free shipping is not applicable on surcharges on larger items. Promo code is valid until November 30, 2024.