Wind can dry out tender young plants and temperature changes can shock or even kill them.
Gardeners can protect plants with materials found around the house.
Use old tires to surround heat loving pepper and tomato transplants, planted after the last potential frost. In the Willamette Valley, this is generally around May 15, or later on the east side of the Cascades. Cut the bottoms out of gallon plastic milk containers and place them over individual plantings. Arch old newspapers over rows of plantings to form a protective tent, with the center fold in the newspaper forming the peak of the tent. Anchor the outer ends of the newspaper pages touching the ground on either side of the plant row with stones or other heavy objects.