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Protecting New Anuals From Frost In A Tent.

Frances ReynoldsFrances Reynolds Posts: 24
in The potting shed

Hello to all.  I have new Anuals in pots which are in the conservatory at the moment.

I want to put them outside, I only have a patio garden.  I don't have a cold frame.

I live in the North East U.K.  I am worried about the night frosts.

Can I put them outside in a tent?

Will they be safe from frosts?

Frances.

 

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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617

    Put them outside in the day, and up against a wall at night with a single layer of fleece or a double layer of newspaper. They should be ok to plant out after a week .

  • Rainwater TerraceRainwater Terrace Posts: 4

    I had to improvise this year with very little space inside i made some mini greenhouses to protect my plug plants on the cold nights and it really is doing the job well. The have been in 4 weeks now and are almost ready to plant out. There have been no casualties to frost.

     

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  • Frances ReynoldsFrances Reynolds Posts: 24

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     Hello again, I did not want to squash the new flowers or stems, that is why I was thinking of a tent. Would the tent work?

    Many thanks Frances.

  • Rainwater TerraceRainwater Terrace Posts: 4

    image Got to be worth a try? these are bigger plants than mine, i often find the closer i get my plants to the house the more protected they are, i have had a  young canna lily out in a pot very close to the back of the house and it has managed to survive the few frosts that we have had.

    I have not tried a tent but i have seen pop up greenhouse tents that people use as a temporary solution for young fragile plants. 

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  • Frances ReynoldsFrances Reynolds Posts: 24

    Thank you for your replies, I will try the tent, it's just a small one (children's) but there will be room for the plants.

    You see, the plants are growing quickly and are getting tangled into one another.

    I would hate to loose them for the sake of a few weeks.  If tent fabric will protect them from frosts then I will go for it.

    Many thanks Frances.

     

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617

    Make sure they get plenty of light during the day or they will get lanky.

  • the tidy gardenerthe tidy gardener Posts: 591

    careful the tent doesn't blow away with these winds!! a couple of years ago my plastic greenhouse caught the wind and upchucked all my plants...

    I have my annuals outside on the patio,but at night they are covered up by a layer of fleece, they have been fine for the last week, and I am in the midlands where the weather is rubbish right now

  • Frances ReynoldsFrances Reynolds Posts: 24

    Hello Claire, do you just lay the fleece over the actual plants?

    Does the fleece not damage the plants?

    Frances.

  • the tidy gardenerthe tidy gardener Posts: 591

    yes, I just lay it over the plants, and its the white fluffy horticultural fleece you get from gardening stores. I saw a programme about using it, and they said it can make the difference of adding about 3 degrees in temperature, so its defo worth it, all bedding plants, tender, and they've been out for a week or two now,quite happy!

  • butterfly6butterfly6 Posts: 46

    We made a temporary cold frame from a dog cage covered with bubble wrap......it has worked very well so far !

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