Pick or protect: Sask. gardeners get ready for fall

It’s the time of year when gardeners fear a frost that can jeopardize an entire summer of hard work in the garden.

“We’re in Saskatchewan, We’re in September – anything can happen so you just have to watch,” said Rick Vanduyvendyk, 650 CKOM’s expert on Garden Talk and owner of Dutch Growers in Saskatoon.

The overnight low in Saskatoon Monday dipped to 2 C. Vanduyvendyk said when it gets that cold, gardeners should cover plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, squash and pumpkins.

“Whenever you get around 5 C, just cover up and if you do dip down below, you are protected,” Vanduyvendyk added.

“The best thing to do is protect or pick them because a lot of tomatoes will finish off inside.”

Vanduyvendyk noted ground crops, like carrots and potatoes, should be fine for now.