One technique I use is to apply a thick layer of organic mulch
Many parts of the country will soon be experiencing frost and freezing temperatures, which can threaten the survival of your warm-season vegetable plants. By keeping frost off the leaves or keeping the temperature around the plants even a few degrees warmer, cold-sensitive plants may survive and continue to produce a little longer.
One technique I use is to apply a thick layer of organic mulch around the base of all my plants. Not only does it keep the roots warmer, it also helps to maintain the soil temperatures at a more even level and can reduce the chances of the ground freezing or heaving.
Physical barriers are another effective way to retain and capture a few extra degrees of heat while keeping season-ending frost off plants. Commonly referred to as floating row covers, the material is typically made of a lightweight spun-bound or nylon material. In some cases, the material is so light that it can actually be laid directly on the plants, so that it appears to float. In virtually all cases, I prefer to support my row cover with metal wire or flexible PVC plastic piping stuck into the garden beds. The row cover material is placed over the frame a few inches to a foot above the plants. It is then pulled tightly and secured around all the edges with bricks, soil or whatever you may have that is convenient and sturdy enough to hold.
