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Frost protection

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  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    It’s a tricky one with the warmer weather we are having I just make sure to harden  stuff off and take my chances. This is Britain and the weather is not predictable really. With some exceptions everything is going out at the end of next week. 
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Same here, if I don't start to get stuff out, I don't have room to grow anything else! My plan was to get the courgettes in on Friday, that went out the window now, but still hope to get them in the following week if the forecast is better.

    It's something like 6 out of 10 years here I would get away with early and mid-May planting. I'm just prepared with cardboard boxes and bubble wrap. Really should invest in fleece again, though at the moment not wanting to buy online or spend any money.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Frost here last night [and several in the last few weeks] and more predicted, but we're used to not putting anything outside till the end of May, unless it's totally hardy and acclimatised, despite the unseasonably warm April. Having said that, the odd night of 0 or minus one will do very little long term damage. 
    I think it's reasonable to assume, if you live somewhere warmer or more sheltered, and you've always done it, that it would be ok. 
    Fleece is probably a better solution @Womble54 , but it's important to apply before the temp dips too low. Insulation traps cold just as easily as it traps heat.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Womble54Womble54 Posts: 348
    Limited space makes it much more difficult, especially without a green house or poly tunnel. 

    Normally I’m more relaxed as I can pop to the garden centre for plants if my seedlings don’t survive. Won’t have that option this year.

    They’ve adjusted the forecast for Sunday to 5oC now. Fingers crossed. Good luck everyone.
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066
    I've had my greenhouse temp drop to 3 degrees and everything has been fine.  We're forecast 1 degree Sunday night and 2 degrees Monday night.  One thing I wont be doing is watering the night before, everthing should be quite dry after the warm temps the day before.  I can take some of the plants back into the greenhouse or coldframe but I have planted quite a lot so I'll be looking around to see whether I can gather the pots together and cover them.  The plants  in the garden will have to take their chances, good job I have lots of spares.
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066
    Oh joy, no I haven't won the lottery.  Just found a bag of fleece 10m x 2m in the shed.  I thought I had bought some years ago just in case but couldn't remember if I had used it.
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Toms are different, though. Not sure they will fruit happily if they have been down to 5oC on and off for a few weeks/months.
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    I just looked at local forecast, cold weather Saturday and Sunday is now cancelled for Essex, tomorrow night is expected to get down to about 4 C, then milder nights into the weekend.

    Toms shouldn't see less than 12 C mine will be in heated propagator for the whole of May.
  • pitter-patterpitter-patter Posts: 2,429
    There a minimum of 1C predicted for tonight, so I will definitely be bringing in some of the plants: cosmos and zinnias especially. Should antirrhinum be alright?
  • Cast near a clout till may is out!
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