The big frost question

[Jesse]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml

Having read the forecast in the link above I'm wondering if we'll get another frost in the southeast. I've got lots of things waiting to be planted out, should I wait or take the chance? I do have lots of fleece and cloches available to use just incase. The most desperate things to get our are my outdoor tomatoes, they've outgrown their little pots and I'm loathed to pot them up again before planting out.

[Jesse]

[Common_Clay]

Hi Jesse,

            If it's any consolation, I planted out a courgette and seven runner beans earlier on the allotment. The courgette had outgrown its third pot so I've put it in the ground beneath a cloche. I'm taking a bit of a chance with the beans, apparently they shouldn't be put out until the end of this month, but I've used a couple of cloches on their sides, wrapped around the bamboo wigwam.
  Hope your tomatoes are ok!

:) :) :)

[Doris_Pinks]

Jesse, am in the same position as you!! Desperate for space, and wanting to get stuff out into the big allotment world, was going to wait another week to see what the weather brings..........................scaredy cat me! ;D

[Jesse]

so I'm not alone then :) I was going to wait another week but the forecast is for good weather for the next 2 weeks or so, the question is what will happen on week 3 and 4 of the month, if we're lucky they'll stay warm as well. Last year I sowed far too much so took the chance with some of the plants and had spares as backup (just as well because the frosts were late), but this year I've pretty much got quantities dead right which leaves nothing in reserve for backup if things go wrong. Oh the stress of it all....  :P :)

[DenBee]

I've planted out some runner beans, because I sowed them far too early (overeager amateur here  ;) ), and they were bursting out of five inch pots.  Had to be done.  One of them was almost a foot high.

I was going to fleece them, but then I decided to experiment.  They've been in about a week, and when I looked today they were looking fine.

I put out sprouts too.  Same thing.  Early sown, and far too big to remain contained.  Only thing wrong with them is a couple of them have been nibbled.  ::)

[Doris_Pinks]

Hehehehe, i seem to remember putting my runners in mid to end of may last year, then we had a VERY late frost! :'(  this is when I wish my veggies were at the bottom of my garden and not a drive away!(so i could race out in me nightie, armed with fleece ;D)

[Robert_Brenchley]

We may well not get another frost, but I'm playing safe and keeping everything tender under cover as long as I can. I haven't forgotten last year when we had a frost in mid-June. It was as though a river of cold air had flowed across my plot; one end of a row of tomatoes was OK, the other had really been walloped.

[Mrs Ava]

Runners went in on bank hols Monday.  Was hoping to get my first batch of toms out today, but I am poorly and housebound, which is odd and miserable for me!   However, as I plan to be 101% on Monday, they will go out then, along with any squashes that have become mutants!  Sweetcorn will be out by mid May - mine is a timing issue and I have to chance it....between working 3 days a week and doing all the children things, and stepdaughter at weekends etc.etc., things have to take their chances in the big wide world!

[katynewbie]

???

EJ poorly and housebound??????? Nope, does not sound right!! Hope you are better soon!!

;)