You can now begin to appreciate the farmers' situation. Any time one tries to outwit Mother Nature, it is a tremendous risk. Yet successful gardening and farming depend on just that. For instance, if one waits until well past the average first frost-free date to insure success with such tender crops as tomatoes and beans, a complete failure may result. The failure will be caused by a later bloom date because of later planting.
Tomatoes blooming during hot temperatures have improper fruit set and reduced yields.
The answer to this dilemma is to plant frost-susceptible crops according to the average first frost date, but remember to protect them if a late cool period occurs. Home gardeners can cover plants with cans, blankets, a cage-garbage bag system or boxes on frosty nights. As you can see, growing vegetables is not as easy as one might imagine. Timing is a major key to success. With proper timing, adapted varieties and a slight assist from Mother Nature, anyone can be a successful gardener.