I hope not, but...
Last Friday - I set most tomatoes in the ground, weather forecast of the night temps was mostly in the 50's for the next 10 days. Checked the weather yesterday - 43 at night, ok, not too bad...
Checked the weather this AM - 41, ok, not liking it, but...
Checked the weather just now - 38 at night, definitely worries me...
We have somewhat a "micro climate" were we are off by 2 degrees, usually on the upper and lower margins, that means it will dip in to 36F, almost guaranteed!
The worse part - I gave away most of the spare plants, I have about 20 left, just in case... Few seeds are sprouting - AAA sweet Solano, and White Oxehearts. So no tragedy by any means, but, it would really be disappointing to loose all the varieties I've grown...
That's VA weather... Last year we had small frost in the second week of May, fortunately, all of the plants were well hardened off, and large, so there was no loss... This time, at my 10% of the chances of frost - will see tomorrow afternoon I guess...
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tomato_girl
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applestar
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Ooh, me too, DV. They've been hee-ing and haw-ing, and now the prediction is 35ºF. And like you, my garden typically dips 2º below the forecast. Most of my toms are still not in the ground, right now, the wind is strong but the sun is warm and the little pots have all been directly on the ground. We had 2 days of rain -- I had to go out in the downpour to move them up to a better drained location and there were earthworms curled up under most of them -- giant nightcrawlers, smaller redworms... A few of the pots were dangling worms out of the drain holes -- they all squirmed inside. 
I'm thinking of leaving them on the ground, covering them with storage tubs, and securing a plastic sheeting over them all rather than trying to haul them all back inside. The ground is warm, it the air temp that's going to be the issue. Tomorrow is going to back to good spring temp, and then upper 70's/low 80's high and upper 50's lows after that.
Do you have something to wrap the sides of the cages/beds up to about 30~36"? You know, like dry cleaner bags, cut open trash bags, old shower curtains? If you want to run out for supplies, plastic drop cloth/sheets for painting might be an inexpensive option.
I'm thinking of leaving them on the ground, covering them with storage tubs, and securing a plastic sheeting over them all rather than trying to haul them all back inside. The ground is warm, it the air temp that's going to be the issue. Tomorrow is going to back to good spring temp, and then upper 70's/low 80's high and upper 50's lows after that.
Do you have something to wrap the sides of the cages/beds up to about 30~36"? You know, like dry cleaner bags, cut open trash bags, old shower curtains? If you want to run out for supplies, plastic drop cloth/sheets for painting might be an inexpensive option.
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gixxerific
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I sure hope you don't loose anything. I have some extra seedling just in case you do, you have been good to me so...
But to help ease your mind a bit. They were calling for a frost a few weekends ago, they said down to low to middle 30's and guess what it was 53 or something when I woke up early in the morning. So don't trust the weatherman too much, but still be cautious. Try to cover things up if you can. I like to live on the edge I even planted some peppers today, probably way early but that's how I do.
Good luck bro if you need anything I'm here.
Dono
But to help ease your mind a bit. They were calling for a frost a few weekends ago, they said down to low to middle 30's and guess what it was 53 or something when I woke up early in the morning. So don't trust the weatherman too much, but still be cautious. Try to cover things up if you can. I like to live on the edge I even planted some peppers today, probably way early but that's how I do.
Good luck bro if you need anything I'm here.
Dono
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sjohnson9206
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rainbowgardener
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Our forecast is also for 36 degrees tonight. But I'm 4 miles from downtown in the heat island; the forecast is for out at the airport. So my garden is always a little warmer than what the forecast says.
And 36 degrees this time of year is different than in the winter. It's 56 right now going to 66 tomorrow. That means if it gets down in the 30's tonight it won't be til just before dawn and then it pops right back up. And the ground is warm and won't have time to cool off again. It's not like when it gets cold and stays cold.
I may put a little cover over the peppers and tomatoes just to help them out, but I'm not too worried about their survival (also they are well hardened off by now!)
And 36 degrees this time of year is different than in the winter. It's 56 right now going to 66 tomorrow. That means if it gets down in the 30's tonight it won't be til just before dawn and then it pops right back up. And the ground is warm and won't have time to cool off again. It's not like when it gets cold and stays cold.
I may put a little cover over the peppers and tomatoes just to help them out, but I'm not too worried about their survival (also they are well hardened off by now!)
Good luck to all who's expecting the low temps!!!
RG - exactly, the "dip" in our area is between 3-5am, then back up into the 40's. And it was sunny most part of the day...
I've covered as much as I could (some with tarp, most with 18-30 gal containers, some with 46gal trash bags stretched over top of the cages). I think I need to say a special prayer tonight, just in case
Couldn't cover tomatoes in containers, plants are just too big, all have some fruit set already, all in full bloom! But those are up against the South side of the garage, sun from the early morning and until the sunset. Base of the garage (concrete) and gravel of the side parking is warm, so it should continue to radiate the heat, and I parked truck along the side with only few inches between. This should create a warmer spot for those guys...
At the end - I've done all that I could, will see tomorrow!
Happy growing to all! Keep em' warm!
Regards,
D
RG - exactly, the "dip" in our area is between 3-5am, then back up into the 40's. And it was sunny most part of the day...
I've covered as much as I could (some with tarp, most with 18-30 gal containers, some with 46gal trash bags stretched over top of the cages). I think I need to say a special prayer tonight, just in case
Couldn't cover tomatoes in containers, plants are just too big, all have some fruit set already, all in full bloom! But those are up against the South side of the garage, sun from the early morning and until the sunset. Base of the garage (concrete) and gravel of the side parking is warm, so it should continue to radiate the heat, and I parked truck along the side with only few inches between. This should create a warmer spot for those guys...
At the end - I've done all that I could, will see tomorrow!
Happy growing to all! Keep em' warm!
Regards,
D
Duh_Vinci,
If it isn't windy, I've had real good luck saving tomatoes from late frosts by just piling leaves up to the tops of the plants. I come along a day or two later with a power leaf blower and blow the leaves away. I've had a few instances where a tomato branch or a few leaves poked out from under the leaves and got froze, but the plant was okay. It also works well to half fill a garbage bag with leaves and turn it upside down on the plant. I've covered plants with just bags and they were frost burned everywhere they touched the plastic. Good Luck!
Ted
If it isn't windy, I've had real good luck saving tomatoes from late frosts by just piling leaves up to the tops of the plants. I come along a day or two later with a power leaf blower and blow the leaves away. I've had a few instances where a tomato branch or a few leaves poked out from under the leaves and got froze, but the plant was okay. It also works well to half fill a garbage bag with leaves and turn it upside down on the plant. I've covered plants with just bags and they were frost burned everywhere they touched the plastic. Good Luck!
Ted
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tomato_girl
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Ted - great idea, nice buffer/blanket those leafs create! Don't have any leafs left, all in the compost bins... I did mulch everything with whatever straw I've had left, specially those with plastic bags over.
Tomato_girl - still no light (not quite 5:00 in the morning), what do we have, about 7 hours difference between US and Europe? I did walk outside with a cup of coffee, luckily no wind, so that make it easier. Cars that are outside - frost on the roofs and windows, but the temperature should start raising just about now, will see in few hours.
Annemieke - that indeed works! Mini-greenhouse... Unfortunately, 5 gallon is the smallest bucket/container I could use, all the plants in the main garden are growing... And container planted are pretty 2'-3' tall by now.
Few more hours... Though now, forecast changed again, and same, near frost temps for tonight again - come on, let the winter go!!!
Regards,
D
Tomato_girl - still no light (not quite 5:00 in the morning), what do we have, about 7 hours difference between US and Europe? I did walk outside with a cup of coffee, luckily no wind, so that make it easier. Cars that are outside - frost on the roofs and windows, but the temperature should start raising just about now, will see in few hours.
Annemieke - that indeed works! Mini-greenhouse... Unfortunately, 5 gallon is the smallest bucket/container I could use, all the plants in the main garden are growing... And container planted are pretty 2'-3' tall by now.
Few more hours... Though now, forecast changed again, and same, near frost temps for tonight again - come on, let the winter go!!!
Regards,
D
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rainbowgardener
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Intellicast is now saying our current temp is 34 (out at the airport). It should be starting to warm up a bit soon. They revised our forecast for today down a bit too, now saying 42 tonight, but that's a lot better than 34!
I put hoops over the peppers and basil and covered it with a tarp and put the squash plants that are still in pots under there. The tomatoes that are in cages with deer netting around the outside, I wrapped the whole thing in row cover. Too early/dark yet to see how they all did, just keeping my fingers crossed.
Hate this! we are down close to record lows for the date. But tonight should be the last in the 40's. After that the 10 day forecast is all with lows in the 50's, which gets us out to May 7... by then even the record lows for the date are above freezing and average low is mid 50's.
I put hoops over the peppers and basil and covered it with a tarp and put the squash plants that are still in pots under there. The tomatoes that are in cages with deer netting around the outside, I wrapped the whole thing in row cover. Too early/dark yet to see how they all did, just keeping my fingers crossed.
Hate this! we are down close to record lows for the date. But tonight should be the last in the 40's. After that the 10 day forecast is all with lows in the 50's, which gets us out to May 7... by then even the record lows for the date are above freezing and average low is mid 50's.
Keep em' crossed, RG, and keep plants covered!
Light is out, but still too early to tell how they did, going to wait couple of hours before taking any covers off - thermometer showing just below the freezing mark, and all the open areas of the grass is frosted white...
Weather is so odd this month! Tonight back in the 30's, and later in the week into 60's at night! Go figure.
Good luck RG!
Regards,
D
EDIT:
[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/photos/850461439_qY5iK-XL.jpg[/img]
[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/photos/850461381_fXgMe-XL.jpg[/img]
Yeah... How is that for a "fancy" covering?
Light is out, but still too early to tell how they did, going to wait couple of hours before taking any covers off - thermometer showing just below the freezing mark, and all the open areas of the grass is frosted white...
Weather is so odd this month! Tonight back in the 30's, and later in the week into 60's at night! Go figure.
Good luck RG!
Regards,
D
EDIT:
[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/photos/850461439_qY5iK-XL.jpg[/img]
[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/photos/850461381_fXgMe-XL.jpg[/img]
Yeah... How is that for a "fancy" covering?
So, now that the morning is here - RG, Apple, and everyone with the low temps - how did we do?
I removed all of the covers and upside-down pots, so far "0" casualties!!! Garden looks like one big mess, but, since I'll have to cover everything back up tonight (sincerely hope for the last time), leaving all of the supplies right there!
Hope everyone survived in your garden!
Regards,
D
I removed all of the covers and upside-down pots, so far "0" casualties!!! Garden looks like one big mess, but, since I'll have to cover everything back up tonight (sincerely hope for the last time), leaving all of the supplies right there!
Hope everyone survived in your garden!
Regards,
D
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gixxerific
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rainbowgardener
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I went out and peeked (don't want to take the covers off, til it warms up more), everything looks pretty good! I think we came through it!
This is why I plant as early as I do... we always end up going through this and everything always seems to make it. And all those tomatoes and peppers have been putting out roots all this time. Once we get a good warm up (coming soon!), they are set to take off!
This is why I plant as early as I do... we always end up going through this and everything always seems to make it. And all those tomatoes and peppers have been putting out roots all this time. Once we get a good warm up (coming soon!), they are set to take off!
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gixxerific
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rainbowgardener wrote:
This is why I plant as early as I do... we always end up going through this and everything always seems to make it. And all those tomatoes and peppers have been putting out roots all this time. Once we get a good warm up (coming soon!), they are set to take off!
Exactly. I have been so worried about planting like always do....EARLY. Trying to go by the suggested plating times I have been driving myself crazy. Of course I ignored all the hoopla and planted when I felt like it was right like I always have done.
You guy's will be okay, never fear, you all know what you are doing.
It's not like last year when we here had that late hard freeze that was devastating to even the commercial growers.
No "delicate" items in the ground right yet. Potatoes are just poking through and the swiss chard is going strong... transplanted broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and lettuce last week.
Was 29 F this morning at 6 am... Turned the heater on last night in the greenhouse... was about 45 - 50 in there this morning when I opened the vents.
Didn't turn the heat on Monday night and some of my small melon seedlings which were close to the walls sustained a bit of frostbite on the ends of their leaves... They should make it... Was 28 F yesterday morning.
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are all in the basement under florescent yet... Kind of crowded down there at the moment... One more "slump" in the forecast for next week then I should be home free... The peppers need to get out to the greenhouse so they can put some size on before I transplant.. They were started end of March and are just now developing their second set of true leaves... not quite 2" tall yet. Tomatoes are thriving though...
Need to get stuff in the ground as I am about out of room both in the basement and in the greenhouse... Time for a larger greenhouse I guess... 120 sq feet doesn't cut it.
Was 29 F this morning at 6 am... Turned the heater on last night in the greenhouse... was about 45 - 50 in there this morning when I opened the vents.
Didn't turn the heat on Monday night and some of my small melon seedlings which were close to the walls sustained a bit of frostbite on the ends of their leaves... They should make it... Was 28 F yesterday morning.
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant are all in the basement under florescent yet... Kind of crowded down there at the moment... One more "slump" in the forecast for next week then I should be home free... The peppers need to get out to the greenhouse so they can put some size on before I transplant.. They were started end of March and are just now developing their second set of true leaves... not quite 2" tall yet. Tomatoes are thriving though...
Need to get stuff in the ground as I am about out of room both in the basement and in the greenhouse... Time for a larger greenhouse I guess... 120 sq feet doesn't cut it.
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GardenJester
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Frost killed 2 of 3 of my zukes. all 3 toms I had under milk jug suffered partial frostbite. strange thing is my snow peas actually seemed to perked up from the frost. Should I just snip off the affected leafs and hope for the best?I feel your pain!
By mid day - I noticed that 4 plants didn't make it: Green Copia, Pink Berkley TD, Lithuanian Crested Pink and Tzar Kolokol. Two I have replacements for, the other two - I don't...
Covered again for tonight, dropping to the same temps again... Good thing I'm off this entire week to do all this cover/uncover.
Again - good luck!
Regards,
D
By mid day - I noticed that 4 plants didn't make it: Green Copia, Pink Berkley TD, Lithuanian Crested Pink and Tzar Kolokol. Two I have replacements for, the other two - I don't...
Covered again for tonight, dropping to the same temps again... Good thing I'm off this entire week to do all this cover/uncover.
Again - good luck!
Regards,
D
Hmm, my trick with the bottles is almost over too. Within some days my plants are to big.Duh_Vinci wrote: Annemieke - that indeed works! Mini-greenhouse... Unfortunately, 5 gallon is the smallest bucket/container I could use, all the plants in the main garden are growing... And container planted are pretty 2'-3' tall by now.
regards back,
Annemieke
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GardenJester
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rainbowgardener
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Yeah, I just looked at the weather now and it is currently saying 37 and it's already light, meaning it may have gone down a degree or two less than that. Last time I had looked at the forecast yesterday it was only forecasted to get down to 42, so I didn't cover things. I'm not looking yet, just assuming that everything was well hardened off and will be ok. But that was really the end! Tomorrow's day time high will be mid 80"s!
Sad indeed if some wouldn't make it - but life goes on!
Second frost last night - we have not had frost entire month of April, go figure! And forecast of the night temps was 38F - yeah, right! 30F this morning on the thermometer, and every bucket covered with frost... In the 80's and 90's over the weekend, what a swing!!!
Just had a "gut" feeling, brought 12 plants in containers into garage last night, glad I did! Those maybe the only ones to survive, worth the work for the May tomatoes
Good luck to all!
Regards,
D
Second frost last night - we have not had frost entire month of April, go figure! And forecast of the night temps was 38F - yeah, right! 30F this morning on the thermometer, and every bucket covered with frost... In the 80's and 90's over the weekend, what a swing!!!
Just had a "gut" feeling, brought 12 plants in containers into garage last night, glad I did! Those maybe the only ones to survive, worth the work for the May tomatoes
Good luck to all!
Regards,
D
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applestar
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Good thinking DV. Hope your other plants made it too. I buried Mr. T with extra leaves the night before last and he didn't come out of his leaf pile all day yesterday, so I doubled-covered my stuff last night again. I don't think there was frost -- 36'ish this morning. Waiting for things to warm up a bit again, then ALL covers are off because it's supposed to be 80's/60's -- 60's! for LOW! -- for the next three days.
Good luck everyone.
Good luck everyone.
My problem this year was planting too many tomato plants early. I've had excellent survival... but, just too many plants to cover on the cold nights.
I've been covering them all; it just takes more time than I would like.
Next year, I will do a better job of staggering my seed starting... so I can put a few plants in the garden early, and save the rest for planting around the first or second week of May.
I've been covering them all; it just takes more time than I would like.
Next year, I will do a better job of staggering my seed starting... so I can put a few plants in the garden early, and save the rest for planting around the first or second week of May.
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GardenJester
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Sorry to hear, but as you said, at least it was only a few!
Amazing how we go from 30F at night and 60F during the day into 75F at night and 93F during the day!!!
So my total loss was 4 tomato plants, all were covered. But the odd thing, about a month ago, I set in the ground Rutgers, one plant, was not in the plans to keep it, merely used the packet of seeds to test germination in specific soil-less mix. The plant is now over 3' tall, and I had nothing to cover it with. So it stayed in the open that night...
Not a single leaf with the frost bite!!! Hardy little plant! Granted, it is protected from 2 sides (garage and raised bed with tall garlic right beside it), but still, no frost bite? And no blossom drop? Come on
Most of the tomatoes are in the ground as of today, peppers go in tomorrow, just wish we had an overcast day - not a chance though!!!
Regards,
D
Amazing how we go from 30F at night and 60F during the day into 75F at night and 93F during the day!!!
So my total loss was 4 tomato plants, all were covered. But the odd thing, about a month ago, I set in the ground Rutgers, one plant, was not in the plans to keep it, merely used the packet of seeds to test germination in specific soil-less mix. The plant is now over 3' tall, and I had nothing to cover it with. So it stayed in the open that night...
Not a single leaf with the frost bite!!! Hardy little plant! Granted, it is protected from 2 sides (garage and raised bed with tall garlic right beside it), but still, no frost bite? And no blossom drop? Come on
Most of the tomatoes are in the ground as of today, peppers go in tomorrow, just wish we had an overcast day - not a chance though!!!
Regards,
D
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rainbowgardener
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Zapatay
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We've been blessed with sunny warm days (70's) and rain at night. I'm so tempted to put out my peppers and tom plants but am worried mother nature will dip, once again.
I feel awful hearing you lost plants - Are you starting from scratch or do you have other ones growing under lights?
Anywho - temps should be average and no reference to frost... perhaps I"ll take my chances and put some out .....
I feel awful hearing you lost plants - Are you starting from scratch or do you have other ones growing under lights?
Anywho - temps should be average and no reference to frost... perhaps I"ll take my chances and put some out .....
Weather is weird. Last week Duh_Vinci was concerned about protecting his plants from frost in Virginia. This week in North Texas, they are already forecasting temps in the low 90's. I will need to protect some of my plants from the heat. Oh well, I guess the tomatoes will go into a growth spurt now. I am looking forward to that.
Many of my tiny little heirlooms and hybrids have already set a few small fruit. I think the plants that truly amaze me are the Brandywine. Simply germinating from seed, they took off like they were in a race with all the other plants to grow largest, fastest. They have started blooms and the blooms are huge for tomato blooms. I've had some concerns about the Brandywines not producing many blooms and not setting much fruit, but I think they will be okay. I am giving them a little shake to help pollination along daily.
Ted
Many of my tiny little heirlooms and hybrids have already set a few small fruit. I think the plants that truly amaze me are the Brandywine. Simply germinating from seed, they took off like they were in a race with all the other plants to grow largest, fastest. They have started blooms and the blooms are huge for tomato blooms. I've had some concerns about the Brandywines not producing many blooms and not setting much fruit, but I think they will be okay. I am giving them a little shake to help pollination along daily.
Ted
Weird - yeah, that's the "least" I can say at the moment...
Tonight - changed from 44, to 41, to 39 and now 36!!! And again, that means I will have frost on the ground. By now - plants are too big for containers to be covered with (except few newer seedlings)...
I did cover what I could, mostly cukes and squash (very young seedlings), but aside from that - I'll have to hope and pray! And the odd part is - today, is what considered to be the absolute date with no chances of frost, Mother's day. All locals usually would plant everything out this weekend...
Oh well... Will see...
Regards,
D
Tonight - changed from 44, to 41, to 39 and now 36!!! And again, that means I will have frost on the ground. By now - plants are too big for containers to be covered with (except few newer seedlings)...
I did cover what I could, mostly cukes and squash (very young seedlings), but aside from that - I'll have to hope and pray! And the odd part is - today, is what considered to be the absolute date with no chances of frost, Mother's day. All locals usually would plant everything out this weekend...
Oh well... Will see...
Regards,
D
I understand your frustration, we had the first march and april without snow for the first time in over a hundred years and only had about 3 frosts throughout both months. Then, the first weekend of may we get snow (can't remember the last time we had snow in may) and frost one night and frost the next night. Luckily I only lost the tops of my tomatoes poking through the wall'o'waters and all my seedlings (sunflowers, peas, spinach, swiss chard, kohlrabi) survived. Although even though my kohlrabi survived the frost it was all eaten by something later that morning. 
On a side note, because of this stupid warm then cold weather, my fern garden was completely wiped out, which wouldn't have happened normally because they'd just be barely poking out of the ground as opposed to 2 feet tall. Stupid indecisive MN weather.
On a side note, because of this stupid warm then cold weather, my fern garden was completely wiped out, which wouldn't have happened normally because they'd just be barely poking out of the ground as opposed to 2 feet tall. Stupid indecisive MN weather.
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rainbowgardener
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applestar
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Ohh. I agree. So sorry to hear of your troubles, Decado -- including the Kohlrabi!
In my garden, the ferns are completely confused as well. I ended up barely picking the Ostrich fern fiddles this spring, because they were hardly up one day, then a few days later, they were ALL unfurling, and in another couple of days, I had knee-high ferns.
I guess this year, they'll replenish, and I'll get a bumper crop next spring.
Your ferns may yet come back. I've noticed in previous years that a lot of shoots do come up later on after the first flush, especially after a good rain.
In my garden, the ferns are completely confused as well. I ended up barely picking the Ostrich fern fiddles this spring, because they were hardly up one day, then a few days later, they were ALL unfurling, and in another couple of days, I had knee-high ferns.
I guess this year, they'll replenish, and I'll get a bumper crop next spring. Your ferns may yet come back. I've noticed in previous years that a lot of shoots do come up later on after the first flush, especially after a good rain.