Frosts forecast - protecting 'tatoes

[Mme Muck]

Thought I should get my spuds covered as frosts are forecast this week - I've only got enough fleece  to cover one row of spuds at the moment till I can get some more in a few days.  I tried earthing up as much as possible but the shoots coming from my Red DoY's are too big now to completely cover.  Any ideas what I can cover them up with or will I just have to suffer some blackened tips?   :-\

[Mme Muck]

[Philbasford]

Ive earthed up as much as i can but loads showing , runner beans are also in and will need fleecing. 

What i was told by the allotment secretary this morning was , if theres a frost to go to the allotment very first thing (6.30/7 am) and wash the frost of.  Has anyone heard of this or done this before?

[woodypecks]

Newspapers , flattened cardboard boxes  , old cutains and sheets .   I,ll be doing the same if frost is  coming . Debbie  :)

[Tulipa]

 
What i was told by the allotment secretary this morning was , if theres a frost to go to the allotment very first thing (6.30/7 am) and wash the frost of.  Has anyone heard of this or done this before?

I have heard that before Phil but can't think where, probably on here a few of years ago I think.  I haven't tried it but it does make sense, you would be melting the frost before the sun gets on it and burns the leaves.

Good luck

T.

[Philbasford]

I have heard that before Phil but can't think where, probably on here a few of years ago I think.  I haven't tried it but it does make sense, you would be melting the frost before the sun gets on it and burns the leaves.

Good luck

T.
[/quote]

So is it the sun on leaves after the frost that does the damage?

[tim]

SOP with me.

[triffid]

It's not really the frost on the leaves that damages the plants: the icy conditions freeze the liquid within the plants' cells, and it's that freeze-and-thaw process that causes the damage. (Ice has more volume than water, so it expands and can burst the cell walls).

Early-morning sunshine causes the cells to thaw extra-fast, which can make the damage worse.
Never tried the dawn wash-off-the-frost process, but it may do some good - not by washing off the frost but because water could gently bring the plant back just above freezing point.

[Mme Muck]

Cardboard and sheets - good idea, got some of that, thanks!  (Don't think I'm committed enough to go and wash the leaves at first light though!  ;)

[InfraDig]

I think I saw the watering idea on LaurieUK's website?

[amphibian]

Having had surgery a few days ago, my plants are at the mercy of the weather, because there is nowt I can do for them.

[InfraDig]

Yes, try:

http://lauriemansersgardenhints.blogspot.com

for May

[Stevens706]

Quicky mow your lawn and use the grass cuttings, that would cover quite a bit.

[Tee Gee]

Ah! the joys of living on top of the Pennines and late sowings I don't get the problems you early birds have. 8)

My lot haven't emerged yet and if they do I have still to earth up and form my ridges. :P

But seriously I think timing is crucial and knowing your frost patterns, this means making/keeping notes essential.

Then of course there is that packet of 'patience' I get for Xmas every year that always helps!  ;D

Having said that; what with the temperatures we are getting at the moment it has made a mockery of my records.

This is the first year I have had to take stuff that is hardening off back into warmer conditions!



Ah! the trials and tribulations of gardening!

Is it any wonder that I ask my self every year 'is it worth it?'

Trouble is; I'm a glutton for punishment!  ;)

[small]

Upturned buckets and large pots over each plant works for me.  BUT I grow in my garden so can get them off again asap, and only grow about 30 plants.  Does work, though.

[Mme Muck]

But seriously I think timing is crucial and knowing your frost patterns, this means making/keeping notes essential.
[/quote]

You're not wrong - I think an element of 'panic' sets in when fellow plotteers talk about getting this and that in and sown already..... next year I will refer to my notes and bide my time .. ;)

[amphibian]

OK, I need to start keeping notes, now I just need to decide how I am going to do it.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Some of mine were lightly frosted last night but they'll soon recover.

[Pescador]

I think spraying them with water will do even more damage by thawing them too quickly. The instant thawing plus the physical impact of water on the leaves is much more likely to cause cellular damage than the relatively slow and gentle thawing as the air temperature rises.

Also, depending on where you are, 6,30/7,00 is not first thing. The sun could easiy be on the plants by then, and the frost probably gone

[Dadnlad]

When we first got our plot we followed what old Bert did on the next plot and had very few troubles with spuds

Then we got cocky and tried planting out earlier and earlier - covering with grass clippings  - next year covering with fleece  - then 2-3 layers of fleece - then rows of blue pipe hoops to suspend the fleece off the plants ::)

Now we accept that we're gardening in a frost pocket, and  er..........wait

[Fork]

Ive earthed up as much as i can but loads showing , runner beans are also in and will need fleecing. 

What i was told by the allotment secretary this morning was , if theres a frost to go to the allotment very first thing (6.30/7 am) and wash the frost of.  Has anyone heard of this or done this before?

One chap on our site went up very early one frosty morning and washed the frost off all the bean rows on the plot....only lost one or two.