The weather forecast for Ohio calls for frost. Protect your garden plants

It's starting to get cold (as if looking at the winter weather forecast for Ohio didn't already make it clear).

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for nearly half of Ohio this evening through Friday morning. Temperatures could drop to 33 degrees.

And if you have delicate plants in the garden or potted plants outdoors, you need to take some precautions against the cold.

Here's how you can protect them.

How to protect your outdoor and potted plants from frost

Sometimes an early frost is an unusual occurrence, and there's still a lot of time left in the growing season, according to the Farmer's Almanac. While some vegetables can tolerate light frost, many cannot. So if your garden is still bearing fruit and you want to protect your crops, there are a few steps you can take.

The most important way to protect plants from frost, according to the Almanac, is to cover them with a blanket or row cover. Row covers are available at garden stores in varying weights and thicknesses. Sheets, quilts and medium-weight fabrics also work well. Don't use plastic.

Drape the covers loosely over the plant to allow air circulation, making sure the fabric does not touch the plant. Cover plants in the early evening when winds die down and remove them the next morning when temperatures begin to rise, the almanac says.

Other suggestions include:

Low mulch planting: Plants close to the ground can be covered with mulch or straw to protect them until the danger of frost has passed.
Water everything: According to the Almanac, moist soil retains more heat than dry soil. In addition, the air above remains about 5 degrees warmer.
Building cold frames: Cold frames, bottomless boxes placed over plants to protect them from frost, can be temporary or permanent structures in the garden.
Protect root vegetables: In milder areas, root crops can be left in the ground. To protect them from frost, cover them with mulch. In colder regions or when the ground is likely to freeze solid, dig them up and store them in a cool, dry place.

If you have potted plants or container gardens, bring them indoors, suggests Better Homes & Garden. Moving them to an unheated location, such as a shed or garage, will provide adequate protection from early frosts. However, if the weather calls for a frost, move the plants into the warm house.

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