frosttender

Frost tender is a horticultural term used to describe plants that have low tolerance for freezing temperatures. Frost-tender plants can be damaged or killed by frost and are typically unable to survive temperatures at or just below freezing. The term is often used to differentiate these crops from frost-hardy or frost-tolerant plants, which can withstand light frosts with little or no injury. Frost tenderness is influenced by species, developmental stage, and environmental conditions; warm-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and many ornamentals fall into this category in temperate climates.

Developmental stage matters: young seedlings and actively growing shoots are more susceptible than established plants or perennials in dormancy. Soil moisture, wind, and sun exposure can also affect cold injury, with exposed, frost-prone microclimates causing more damage than sheltered sites. Frost damage can appear as water-soaked or blackened tissue, limp or desiccated leaves, or total plant death in severe cases.

Management practices for frost-tender crops include aligning planting with local last-frost dates, starting plants indoors or under protection, and using row covers, cold frames, or high tunnels to raise air temperatures and trap heat during cold nights. Mulching and site selection to create warmer microclimates, as well as choosing frost-tender varieties with slightly greater cold tolerance, can reduce risk. In regions with unpredictable springs, gardeners often delay direct sowing and rely on transplants.

Common frost-tender crops include most warm-season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, and cucumbers, as well as many annual flowers and tropical plants that cannot tolerate frost.