The weather forecasts widespread frosts tonight. What do we need to cover. I'm going to do the camellias. What else in the flower garden.
Janet
and tonight, after such a glorious day. The camelias should be OK as long as they aren't east facing its the rapid thaw that does the damage... :)
If the do get frosted spray the buds with cold water before the sun gets on them and this will stop them rupturing.
Its the sudden change in temperature when the morning sun radiates on them that causes the problem, the cold water raises the temperature slightly and thaws them before this happens.
Ah!! I remember the days when I grew my exhibition dahlias. There were a few occasions when the neighbours would see me running around the plot in my jim jams with a pump spray in hand..................whats that bl**dy idiot doing? :o ::)
OH went to see his sister yesterday. Her husband is the one with gardening qualifications coming out of his ears. He walked in and said ****** said the camelias need covering, there's going to be a frost tonight. Like an idiot I got all my fleece out & dutifully covered them. At the plot today as I was barrowing a load of rubble bags to the car I suddenly thought to myself, you pillock they didn't need covering. They are all north facing. Thanks SD & TeeGee. OH will believe me now he has read your posts.
Janet.
The frost can hurt the Camelia petals, and my mate who has a fancy gadget said it recorded a low of -4 inside the greenhouse, so a bit of fleece might not be too belt and braces.
It never does any harm to be careful.
Now i know why mine go all brown. I've got a south facing garden so when the sun comes up it causes this to happen. You lovely people are a mine of information. Thanks ;)
its still a bit early yet , go steady ;)