By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
As the days grow shorter, most plant and garden owners begin to turn toward meteorologists to see when they may have to bring plants inside or cover their gardens to protect from frosty temperatures.
This year, according to the Wichita National Weather Service, Salina and surrounding communities in northern Kansas will likely see the first frost this weekend.
"The northern two-thirds have a really good chance, with even northwest Kansas and northern Kansas having a potential freeze," said Wichita NWS meteorologist Christian Williams.
The predicted temperatures for Salina on Friday evening dip into the low 30s, with some regions of Saline County seeing temperatures dip into the mid-20s.
Most of the northern portion of the state received freeze warnings, including Jewell, Republic, Washington, Rooks, Osborne, Mitchell and Cloud counties. Many parts of central Kansas received frost warnings, including Saline, Dickinson, Ottawa, Russell, Lincoln, McPherson, Ellsworth, Rice and Marion counties.
According to the National Weather Service, these warnings begin at 3 a.m. Saturday Morning, lasting until around 9 a.m.
With lower temperatures, Williams said most plant and animal owners must take precautions this weekend by bringing temperature-sensitive plants and animals inside or into a building.
K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent Jason Graves said an essential factor in protecting flowerbeds, gardens and other plants is knowing the limitations of each plant.
"The big thing is to understand the cold tolerance of the plants you're working with so that you can make decisions based on your goals," Williams said. "Getting to know the hardiness of the plants you're working with and what they can tolerate and not tolerate is critical."
Each plant has a hardiness level showing what temperatures would cause damage for the varying plants across Kansas. Graves said tropical house plants and many flowers cannot survive colder conditions.
K-State Research and Extension offers multiple tools for plant owners to know the hardiness of their plants and what they may need through the state's colder months.
Graves said frosty temperatures would significantly damage summer vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, while hardier plants like beets, radishes and spinach would not be as damaged by the first or second frost of the year.
"Plants are all going to have different needs depending on how much cold tolerance they have and what part of the plant we're trying to save," Graves said. "Some of them we have to dig up and bring into the garage or into the basement to preserve and replant, and the following year."