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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: strawberry1 on April 22, 2012, 06:25:18

Title: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: strawberry1 on April 22, 2012, 06:25:18: I am anxiously sitting here and waiting for the temperature to rise. The outdoor air sensor says 1.6 but there is frost on the car and on 2 of my small greenhouses. The forecast said 5 minimum last night so I put fleece over the plants in my greenhouses but I may have been caught. I have 6 greenhouses, 3 are small polycarbonate and 3 are larger. Doh I have everything crossed.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on April 22, 2012, 06:49:18: Where are you? It has been a cloudy night here in Leicestershire, temp now about 5 C.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: strawberry1 on April 22, 2012, 08:09:58: somerset and it is very mild, indeed hot during the day, where I live. I have been out and checked and all plants are looking good, including courgettes. Phew, I am grateful that I put double layers of fleece directly on all the plants yesterday. Its amazing but I have 3 small polycarb greenhouses and one was against a wall. That one had no frost on top at all. My other two are going alongside that wall tonight. I use a weather station giving me max and min temeratures, min was 1.6 last night but frost must have rolled down from the surrounding field. It is 6 degrees already, in the shade

It seems as though a good layer of fleece on top of plants and inside an unheated greenhouse is pretty good protection and I am finding that re-assuring. I feel that the small houses are most vulnerable as there is a lot of insulating air space in the bigger houses
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ian Pearson on April 22, 2012, 09:15:03: It's worth checking any thermometer's manufacturers data. Often, rather shockingly, the accuracy tolerance is only +/- 1.5 degrees. A digital display showing one decimal point precision can be highly misleading.
Glass thermometers that are attached to a separate backboard with the scale printed on it can easily be well out.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: saddad on April 22, 2012, 11:23:19: I was a couple of weeks ago but not since... :-X
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on April 22, 2012, 11:26:29: A plotholder had some of his tomato seedlings slightly burned by the cold when I went over there today and like Saddad many took a hit a few weeks ago when we had a really cold night.

Still about 3 weeks to go before you can reasonably expect frost free nights here in the Midlands.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: small on April 22, 2012, 12:54:39: Ellen, I'm only a few miles north of you and I have regularly had frost the last week in May - I cover up anything vulnerable till 1st week in June, it's a pain but it breaks my heart to lose carefully nurtured veg.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Squash64 on April 22, 2012, 13:32:17: Quote from: small on April 22, 2012, 12:54:39
Ellen, I'm only a few miles north of you and I have regularly had frost the last week in May - I cover up anything vulnerable till 1st week in June, it's a pain but it breaks my heart to lose carefully nurtured veg.

Here in Birmingham we had a very heavy frost one year on the night of 29th May. I remember the date because it's my husband's birthday. I lost all my runner beans and courgettes. Since then, if I do plant any out I cover them with cloches.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Digeroo on April 22, 2012, 13:43:15: I can remember one year having a frost 6th June. I was lucky I heard the weather forecast and covered my beans with newspaper and sheets. But lots of people lost theirs and it was impossible to buy a packet of replacements anywhere.

It was in the days before fleece was available, so now I peg round the fleece every night for weeks. The weather forecast can be very untrustworthy. The clouds can suddenly part in the night and goodbye beans.

We have had frosts most nights for the last two weeks.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 22, 2012, 16:53:39: We had two frosts in June last year. My beans were hit badly, and it was ages before the survivors started growing.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on April 22, 2012, 17:44:46: Eeeek!!! This is my 4th year and I guess I've been lucky. Toms and sweetcorn planted out 2nd half of May for the last 3 years and I've got away with it. But Toms dont go out until they are big plants and perhaps they would survive a very mild frost. And I'm not a big bean fiend, peas are more my thing, beans go in last in the Q so end May perhaps.

But cant be complacent. One year, a massive hail storm in the middle of July hammered everything, sweetcorn leaves ripped to shreads etc. Gotta love the British weather.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Coastie on April 22, 2012, 17:53:22: Glad I saw this post. I've just put some cauli, brussels and cabbage out. I'll make sure they're covered and cossetted for a while yet then. I'm in Cornwall
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: cornykev on April 22, 2012, 19:43:01: You should be alright with brassicas Coastie, it's the toms, beans, spuds and sweetcorn when put out too early.
My Marigold seedlings were frosted a few weeks ago though. :-\
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: betula on April 22, 2012, 19:51:46: A tip for runner beans when a late frost is forecast.

If they are going up the pole wrap with newspaper and secure with a clothes peg.

I am itching to get going with it all LOL ;D
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Deb P on April 23, 2012, 09:58:43: After getting nastily caught out a few weeks ago and losing all of my heritage tomato plants I invested in a little electric heater which keeps my greenhouse toasty at 10 degrees. It cuts in and out reliably and my min. max. thermometer tells me it has been going its job well. I have noticed the seedlings are just starting to romp away now, but they will still be very small compared to last year where we had that nice April. This year has been cold and very wet so far here in Derby! Musn't grumble........ :-\ :-X ::)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Duke Ellington on April 23, 2012, 10:21:18: I got caught out last year and now use a domestic fan heater. I have this fan heater plugged into a thermostat so that I can set the heater to come on at 5c . It's so dissapointing when you loose seedlings especially taking into account the cost and effort that goes into it all. I only hope we don't have a power cut during the night :o
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: galina on April 23, 2012, 10:35:50: Here also losses due to frost in early June. Half the beans of a heritage variety were wiped out, the other plants struggled for a while, then recovered. Then the same happened again a few years later on the same date Squash lost a lot of plants. As it happened that year I grew the same heritage variety from seeds from the frost survivors and whilst other beans perished (and squash too), these survived well.

I doubt we will ever get really frost hardy beans. However growing from own seed, especially seed that has been through hardship, is a good thing. So many commercial seeds are grown far from Britain, in India or in the med where labour costs are cheaper, it is no wonder that they are unusually frost tender.

Heritage tomatoes on the other hand should be hardier - guess most HSL toms were grown in England, but they may have been 'coddled' by seed guardians who want to make sure their plants produce seeds.

Which means that any veg that 'has made it' is worth saving seed from, to have an easier time in future years.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: strawberry1 on May 02, 2012, 08:21:01: watch out from friday night, cold is coming

I had to plant tomatoes in grobags and they are covered by pvc houses but it isn`t going to be enough. I have just received lots more (30 gm) fleece and I`ll be making cocoons over each plant and then layers over and around the pvc. Then I`ll have my fingers crossed

I only have a few french beans sown and they popped up in a few days, so I am going to try them as a sacrificial experiment ie uncovered under pvc. I got hundreds for 99p from ebay, so I won`t be fretting about them. I am going to do the same with rocoto (locoto) chilli as I have spare plants. I planted one up and it is going under an overhang on the house. It`ll be interesting to see if it survives

Such a massive change from last year but it makes gardening an interesting challenge
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Digeroo on May 02, 2012, 08:35:34: I live about as far from the sea as you can get in the UK so we often have snap late frosts. Thanks for the warning for friday night.

I can recommend bottle cloches but it is important that the plants do not touch the plastic. Another great helper is a bottle of water. So if you put bottles of water under the fleece they give out heat during the night. Even more if they start to freeze they actually give out more heat. Remember too that double glazing is more effective so a double layer of fleece is even more use. If you do not have enough fleece, try newspaper or an old sheet, it does not matter if they are not translucent because you can take them off again in the morning.

Saturday night the forecast is even lower 2C here which means there will almost definiately be a ground frost is they are correct. We had several very cold nights in May last year.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: green lily on May 02, 2012, 20:44:56: Well I've fleece at the ready and it'll even go over the french beans and toms in the poly tomorrow night.
Outdoors i only have potatoes that are vulnerable but I want the fleece to stay dry so have to dodge the showers. O the joy of British weather- and we're only at the beginning of May! it's the frosts at the end of the month that usually get me.
I've only sown my climbing beans today. I reckon if necessary they'll manage in their big yoghurt pots until June....
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: star on May 02, 2012, 20:59:11: I have to fleece the potatoes yet, they're only just through. Its forcast to be 6 deg tonight so should be ok......must do it before Fri though.

My beans and sweetcorn are up.....they're in the cold greenhouse which has slowed them down.They might be ok with any luck :)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: strawberry1 on May 03, 2012, 12:48:56: I have just got my gallon plastic water containers (ex wine making) and they are filled with water and in the warm utility room. 5 of them and 4 litre bottles of water too. Thanks for that tip, it makes a great deal of sense. They will go near any plants I can`t move, I am very glad that I have (fewer) spares and can move them indoors. I reckon there will be a lot of sad people next week, looking at frosted tender plants

I am not fleecing my potatoes though as I cannot raise the fleece above the foliage now. They will be taking their chances
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Digeroo on May 03, 2012, 13:02:02: I have straw to throw over my potatoes. But I have already put out 10 french beans under bottle cloches, I shall have to get them a bit more protection.

Forecast for Saturday night here down to 1C so that could be quite devastating. I have loads of potatoes showing now. The warm wet nights has really got them going. We often have temperature 5 or more degrees below the stated forecast. I always have to remind myself they take the temperature 4 feet above the ground in a little wooden box.

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wxfacts/The-Stevenson-Screen.htm

I also want to fleece up my strawberries, the flowers go black in the centre and do not produce fruit.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 03, 2012, 13:16:44: Quote from: Digeroo on May 03, 2012, 13:02:02
I have straw to throw over my potatoes. ..........

I also want to fleece up my strawberries, the flowers go black in the centre and do not produce fruit.

I didn't realise strawberry flowers might be damaged by frost - I've never given them a second thought but just left them to get on with it for years.

My potatoes are barely through - just one or two showing but I'll nip down on Friday and plaster all 7 rows with grass mowings as I usually do. Seems to work. Nothing else tender outside.

I may well empty my little leantoo greenhouse and bring everything indoors to the conservatory as, even here in the soft south, Saturday and Sunday night temperatures are due to dip very low.

Roll on summer.....even with a hosepipe ban. ::)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 03, 2012, 13:46:28: Its due to get down to 2 degrees early sunday morning

Will my brassicas that i put out last week be ok?, peas have been out a few weeks now and poatoes are quite well advanced.

What my plan to do is get down to the allotment about 6.30 sunday morning and hose everything down , will this stop any light frost damage?
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: goodlife on May 03, 2012, 14:19:24: Your brassicas and peas should be fine..potatoes might get 'touched' by it but it won't kill em..new growth will appear if the should die.
As for hosing.. :-\ 6.30 might be bit late.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 03, 2012, 14:37:13: Quote from: goodlife on May 03, 2012, 14:19:24
Your brassicas and peas should be fine..potatoes might get 'touched' by it but it won't kill em..new growth will appear if the should die.
As for hosing.. :-\ 6.30 might be bit late.

What kind of time should I.be down for?

Think it will be touch and go at that temp wheather we. Get a frost
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: goodlife on May 03, 2012, 15:14:29: Code: [Select]
What kind of time should I.be down for?

Well sunrise is 5.25 so for it to work you should be working as the frost will 'land'..usually you see it condensing at the sunrise and 'biting' when the sun touches the ground/plants.

Are you able to earth you potatoes up to cover the potato tops?..or spread some newspaper on the night before even if its just single sheet over the tops.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 03, 2012, 15:40:28: Rhubarb leaves also make good cover.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 03, 2012, 16:09:31: Quote from: goodlife on May 03, 2012, 15:14:29
Code: [Select]
What kind of time should I.be down for?

Well sunrise is 5.25 so for it to work you should be working as the frost will 'land'..usually you see it condensing at the sunrise and 'biting' when the sun touches the ground/plants.

Are you able to earth you potatoes up to cover the potato tops?..or spread some newspaper on the night before even if its just single sheet over the tops.

Got plenty of fleece, may just lay it loose so it provides better procection. Potatoes have grown a bit big to be earthed up
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: small on May 03, 2012, 16:13:44: If you don't have too many potatoes, upturned large plantpots and buckets keep frost off. My garden looks very stupid on risky nights, but it works - they don't blow around like newspaper.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 03, 2012, 16:54:51: Quote from: small on May 03, 2012, 16:13:44
If you don't have too many potatoes, upturned large plantpots and buckets keep frost off. My garden looks very stupid on risky nights, but it works - they don't blow around like newspaper.

That's a good tip. With care you could anchor flower-pots by sticking a cane through the hole.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: strawberry1 on May 03, 2012, 18:46:52: Ian Fergusson on west country weather says frost is expected in somerset at the weekend. Many moons ago I did get caught and I nipped out and sprayed the frosted plants with cold water, it worked. I think I`ll leave a sprayer full of water outside ready, depends if sun is expected or not, a bit of drizzle first thing will help. It`ll be worst if sun gets on the frozen greenery first

Re potatoes, well I can`t do anything re prevention. There is too much foliage and they got a good move on recently. I planted them early and I am hoping any frost will just nip them at most. Whatever, it should all be over by sunday lunchtime
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: gardentg44 on May 05, 2012, 06:36:13: got caught by frosts last year on my poatoes but trying this ,this year.(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/gardentg44/keys121.jpg)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 05, 2012, 10:08:57: Hey gardentg44 - looks good ;)

Send a bag of that straw this way.... I really could do with a little to put around my strawberries especially with all this wet.

I use grass clippings over the top of my spuds - not so useful for strawberries.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Digeroo on May 05, 2012, 11:11:24: That is a huge amount of straw. Looks good. I have also strawed up my spuds. Keeps the weeds at bay as well. I love it when the green pops up above the straw.

I had four bales in the car it is now a terrible mess - the plastic sheet moved.

No frost here yet.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: sunloving on May 05, 2012, 14:04:24: We had proper ice this morning on the water butts and hen water. I had covered the sweetcorn and french beans and brought the dahlias inside but i forgot the courgette pots and so they got fried and are looking very limp indeed!
Such a late frost- more than 7 years since we had one this late.

Lovely sunny day today though. planted more toms out in the greenhouse they look fab.

Watch out tonight!
x Sunloving
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: strawberry1 on May 05, 2012, 14:23:52: lol, I love all that straw

I managed to find my big fleece pieces so have covered all spuds in 2 layers. I think I`ll go around the garden, covering stuff soon, before I freeze
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: gwynnethmary on May 05, 2012, 15:56:07: Went to do a quick cover up today, and found a dead mouse in the shredded fleece-yuk! Fortunately I had another, pristine one.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Steve. on May 05, 2012, 16:21:21: Quote from: gwynnethmary on May 05, 2012, 15:56:07
Went to do a quick cover up today, and found a dead mouse in the shredded fleece-yuk! Fortunately I had another, pristine one.

Mouse? ;D

Steve...:)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 05, 2012, 18:48:49: A mouse will compost nicely.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: gwynnethmary on May 05, 2012, 19:02:18: Quote from: Steve. on May 05, 2012, 16:21:21
Quote from: gwynnethmary on May 05, 2012, 15:56:07
Went to do a quick cover up today, and found a dead mouse in the shredded fleece-yuk! Fortunately I had another, pristine one.

Mouse? ;D

Steve...:)
LOL! ;D
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: gwynnethmary on May 05, 2012, 19:03:00: Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on May 05, 2012, 18:48:49
A mouse will compost nicely.

Oooh no! It got tossed into no man's land!
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: strawberry1 on May 06, 2012, 06:13:28: lol, well it didn`t get frosty here at 5.8 so all the fleece will go back in store later and the bottles of water back under the stairs. I`m glad I took precautions and that all my plants are safe, I bet a lot of people lost stuff a bit further north, I would find that heartbreaking
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 06, 2012, 06:15:38: Well I got to the allotment at. 5.15. Uncovered the spuds. Some were a bit frosted though. So washed them all down. So think just 2 plants might get set back a bit.
Everthing else is ok though. Think spuds were in.most frost prone spot

But am I right in thinking the spuds wi just grow through this?
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: pumkinlover on May 06, 2012, 07:14:37: Yes Phil but it knocks them back.
I earth up if expecting a frost.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 06, 2012, 07:18:14: Quote from: pumpkinlover on May 06, 2012, 07:14:37
Yes Phil but it knocks them back.
I earth up if expecting a frost.
We couldn't earth some of them up any more. Hopefully.just a singe
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 06, 2012, 07:33:58: I can't work out if the is going to be a frost tonight!
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: pumkinlover on May 06, 2012, 07:37:46: Just seen the weather forcast on BBC- I know what you mean!
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Digeroo on May 06, 2012, 07:42:29: Escaped the frost here which is great since I was worried about my broad beans.

I think that the strawberries will have liked their nights under wraps. It might not have been a frost but it was still pretty nippy.

I am not sure about tonight, looks like the skies could clear briefly but I shall leave the covers on until tomorrow just in case. The spuds will not mind.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: ToniD on May 06, 2012, 16:22:50: Some of the folk on our site in Blackpool had some damage to potatoes, I got off lightly
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 06, 2012, 16:40:43: Nippy here too last night but I am pretty sure no frost. But blooming heck it's MAY and still too cold to plant stuff with no sign of the weather changing. :(
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: JENIAN on May 06, 2012, 16:50:13: Minus 2 deg here but everything Ok in the GH thanx to bubble wrap :)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: plotstoeat on May 06, 2012, 20:16:01: I have planted my beans (runner and French) today and covered them with glass.
We had snow in Durham two nights ago. There's time to sow some more if they get frosted.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 06, 2012, 23:32:39: Quote from: Steve. on May 05, 2012, 16:21:21
Quote from: gwynnethmary on May 05, 2012, 15:56:07
Went to do a quick cover up today, and found a dead mouse in the shredded fleece-yuk! Fortunately I had another, pristine one.

Mouse? ;D

Steve...:)

:D :D :D

Lovely clear sky here tonight.... big bright moon.... Frost by morning? :(
Roll on ~~summer~~ spring ???
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: cambourne7 on May 06, 2012, 23:54:53: freezing outside car looks like its already got some frost on it :(

Only lost 5 plants so far although all giant fuchsias :(
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 06, 2012, 23:56:30: Quote from: cambourne7 on May 06, 2012, 23:54:53
freezing outside car looks like its already got some frost on it :(

Only lost 5 plants so far although all giant fuchsias :(

Sorry to hear about those fuchsias. :( Had you taken any cuttings?
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: cambourne7 on May 06, 2012, 23:59:47: Nope new plants from T&M not all dead :(
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 07, 2012, 00:06:21: Quote from: cambourne7 on May 06, 2012, 23:59:47
Nope new plants from T&M not all dead :(

Once the survivors get going I'd take a few cuttings, plonk them in a small pot & seal in a plastic bag out of direct sunlight (sun what??). They are often pretty easy to propagate once you have plants to take cuttings from.

May the frost miss you tonight!! ;)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 07, 2012, 06:57:28: Well what an idiot my potatoes have taken quite a hit last night and I.think watering the frost off this morning has.made matters worse:( I hope they grow back ! Must have about 15/20 wilted plants. Rest are ok or earthed up. They were about 6 inches high to:(

The caulis which only got put out last week have a little but of frost on them. Will they be ok it do I.need to resow?
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 07, 2012, 09:13:29: Left the covers off last night as it looked as if we were going to escape the frost again.

Off to the lottie to check ....
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 07, 2012, 11:28:48: Quote from: Ellen K on May 07, 2012, 09:13:29
Left the covers off last night as it looked as if we were going to escape the frost again.

Off to the lottie to check ....

Fingers crossed for the results......
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 07, 2012, 11:29:43: Quote from: notts_phil on May 07, 2012, 06:57:28
Well what an idiot my potatoes have taken quite a hit last night and I.think watering the frost off this morning has.made matters worse:( I hope they grow back ! Must have about 15/20 wilted plants. Rest are ok or earthed up. They were about 6 inches high to:(

The caulis which only got put out last week have a little but of frost on them. Will they be ok it do I.need to resow?

Cauliflowers should be OK as far as I'm aware.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: gwynnethmary on May 07, 2012, 12:10:04: Potatoes blackened in spite of being earthed up on Saturday by OH-I'm still post surgery sore so unable to do much. The same happened last year and they recovered so am not panicking.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 07, 2012, 13:49:42: Quote from: Aden Roller on May 07, 2012, 11:28:48
Quote from: Ellen K on May 07, 2012, 09:13:29
Left the covers off last night as it looked as if we were going to escape the frost again.

Off to the lottie to check ....

Fingers crossed for the results......

No frost again (phew!!) - all well with the spuds.

This weather eh ::)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: strawberry1 on May 11, 2012, 20:55:08: oh heck, bean plants went in today and I had to put up wind breaks, then just now I looked and saw 4 degrees tonight and 3 tomorrow, so fleece all around the wigwams too. I don`t normally have plants but they were an unexpected surprise and I have no-where to keep them at home. Its bloomin touch and go most days at the moment and this is sunny somerset!!!
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: saddad on May 11, 2012, 22:23:16: Having gone for a wander just before dark I wouldn't be surprised if we get one tonight... :o
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 11, 2012, 22:50:51: Please don't let the be a frost! I've.not covered my spuds and only got one latet of plastic over my squash/pumpkins and sweetcorn with no fleece on.either:(
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 12, 2012, 07:50:00: I'm just a bit further south and it's touch and go here - saw what seemed to be frost on the neighbours shed roof but bedding plants in the garden seem OK.

Spuds uncovered and showing on lottie - hope they are OK ................

ETA: still a bit windy outside - maybe that would have kept it off.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: brown thumb on May 12, 2012, 09:55:22: we had a frost last night down here in cornwall the neighbours roof was white at 6 this morning the last supposed date for frost was end of march :o
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 12, 2012, 13:13:48: No evidence of frost damage on the site this morning .... phew!!

We were lucky, a hair's breadth away.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 12, 2012, 17:46:57: My spuds were slightly frosted the other night, but I never worry about it. They recover in no time.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 13, 2012, 00:06:18: I've plonked more grass clippings on mine today as temperatures due to drop to 4 next week but my neighbours don't seem to be bothered at all.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: TEL on May 13, 2012, 06:40:14: Frost on the spuds this morning.
Went over them with water Se if that helps.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 13, 2012, 17:08:48: No frost damage evident again this morning - in spite of another clear chilly night.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 15, 2012, 21:35:33: Has anyone covered their spuds tonight? All my squash n pumpkins are in mini polytunnels. I haven't as far to much to.cover. ,but if its like the one on the bank holiday weekend I.won't be a happy. The frosted spuds are just recovering nicely . I don't want then set back again.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Duke Ellington on May 15, 2012, 21:45:38: I have just been outside to move some veg plants that have been happy outside for the past few nights into the greenhouse. The greenhouse is frost protected by a small fan heater. My seedlings are struggling this year so I thought better to be safe than sorry. :-\
If a min night temp of 4 is forecast I worry :-\

Duke
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: winecap on May 15, 2012, 22:10:16: Didn't manage to earth the spuds up today because of the rain and now it looks like frost. Forecast says 4 degrees. I did light a candle in the greenhouse though. There are lots of blackened potatoes on our site but mine have escaped so far and are consequently almost too tall to earth up again anyway. Lets hope this is the last frost as the tomatoes are itching to get outside.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 15, 2012, 22:13:33: Well I have no clue about the weather but I covered my spuds with fleece for the night as right now it's a critical time for their development and the BBC says it may be a bit cold tonight.

It is killing me, this will it wont it be a frost ?? After tonight well i will just be giving up and everything will be taking its own chances ....

AGH !!!
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Sparkly on May 15, 2012, 22:22:56: -4 due to tonight and tomorrow night! I have earthed up our spuds and I don't have anything in that has germinated yet except broad beans and some early peas. The peas are under a cloche so hope they are okay!
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Kea on May 15, 2012, 23:06:08: Was up this evening wrapping fruit trees up. Quiet on site then everyone started arriving they must have all watched the weather forecast on TV!
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 16, 2012, 05:19:37: Well I feared the worst when saw ice on car!!

Got to allotment and fleece was frozen that was covering my mini polytunnels.

Spuds seem relatively untouched apart from one or two. Peas ok to. However fleece that was cover ING peas was frozen and it was touching a couple of the peas which I.hope will be ok.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Digeroo on May 16, 2012, 06:37:32: Quite a frost here last night. Just gpgoing down to assess the damage. Though spent some time covering up last night. A few spuds already had a bit of leaf damage due to forsts earlier in the week,

I don't think peeps round here were watching the news, I was there with my fleece last night on my own,

Pleased to have got my Strawberries covered. They are covered in flowers.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Ellen K on May 16, 2012, 10:54:31: Cold night here, heavy dew, no frost.

My Que Sera Sera plot neighbours think I'm crazy.
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: RenishawPhil on May 16, 2012, 11:15:55: My strawbs are also in flower. I didn't cover them over. Don't think they got frosted. Flowers looked ok this morning so hope they will be ok
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Steve. on May 16, 2012, 12:50:55: Very light frost here in West Cumbria last night, I was the only one down here last night putting the fleece out.

(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/002-10.jpg)

Only one plot holder showed up this morning early enough to wash the frost off, but in general no frost damage here.

Steve...:)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: cornykev on May 16, 2012, 16:45:33: Nothing to report here. ::)
Title: Re: anyone get caught by frost?
Post by: Aden Roller on May 17, 2012, 00:04:11: Spuds sticking up all over our allotments....... I guess I'm the only cautious person on the site. Yet again I've covered mine with grass mowings.

Many have runner beans out looking sad. Again.... I'm waiting and mine will stay undercover for now.