Forum home Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Storm Cover, or impending disaster

So here’s the tomato plant

And here’s my solution to protecting it from tonight’s impending storm (also given it some good mulch)

Just wondering, with wind speeds of 10mph is this just gonna drag the stake with the plant to the ground?

As for further cover , there’s six foot high fences and sheds in any direction about four meters out


“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin”
Trolius & Cressida
«1

Posts

  • Pauline 7Pauline 7 Posts: 2,246
    I would try and move it into a corner if possible, It might be a bit more sheltered.
    West Yorkshire
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    It looks wilted in the first photo so not sure why you are covering it up. It needs the water but you could give it some more support that it can be attached to.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    If it gets gusty that bag may damage the leaves if it blows about

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No offence but- 10 mph is barely a light breeze.  :)
    If it's going to be in the region of 30 mph or more, just put it against a house wall, or in the lee of the sheds/fences.  That's far better than putting something over the plant, which is more likely  to cause damage rather than give protection. 
    I rarely shelter any plants from winds, and we've had plenty of over 25 - 30 mph for the last week. Gale force the other day. Anything more vulnerable and fleshy that might break, is tied in properly to a support right from the start, or has support from other plants. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    10mph? that's really not a wind at all, the average windspeed where I am is nearly 20mph Just make sure the pot can't tip over and the stake is secure, if you are really concerned and think the pot will fall over lie it down for the duration.
  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    edited June 2021
    I think you should move the pot near the fence under the shelter of trees at the far end. Your makeshift cover is best removed, IMHO. Also, if you use garden twine or jute thread instead of those plastic clips/ties, it will better protect the main stem.
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited June 2021
    I think the worry is heavy rain rather than wind. The south east has a forecast of torrential down pours in certain areas over the next few days....

    I would put the plant in a corner so it has more support.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Could be a typo ?  100 mph winds rather than 10  :D  I don't think weather reports actually record 10 mph as a "wind" do they ? Just a bit of a breeze if they even mention it.
    We have a Yellow warning here in the SW but the SW is a large area with many "mini climates" so who knows until it happens.
    Anything tall or fragile in pots would be best placed in the most sheltered spot available as suggested above - that's really the best you can do and keep your fingers crossed  :) 

  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    We regularly get high winds because of our proximity to the sea and the south downs,we are in a serious wind tunnel. My tomatoes are outside,in pots by the green house,I don't cover them. The garden had a right Old battering last night wind and rain, tomatoes look fine
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    100 mph winds would be what we had in the Great Storm of ‘87 and I don’t think anywhere on the UK mainland was/is expecting that this week … 😨 unless my name’s Michael Fish 🐠 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Sign In or Register to comment.