How do I act on a frost warning to protect my crops from frost?

On the day a frost is forecast, give a light evening irrigation, be ready to create light smoke before dawn, and cover sensitive plants, because frost strikes hardest on dry, still, clear nights. The most reliable single step is a light irrigation in the evening of the night frost is expected, since wet soil holds heat and keeps the crop canopy a few degrees warmer through the night. On a very cold clear still night, lighting small smoke fires of dry leaves or weeds on the upwind side around 4 to 5 am creates a haze that cuts heat loss to the sky. Cover vegetable nurseries and tender plants with straw, gunny or plastic at night and remove the cover by morning. For frozen leaves, a spray of plain water early before sunrise helps, because direct sun on frosted leaves is what kills them. Sensitive crops like potato, gram, mustard and young vegetables need the most care. Watch the cold wave warning on the Mausam app and your KVK bulletin so you can irrigate ahead of the frost night.