skip to main content

Cold Spell coming-- OT advice??

16 years ago

Hi folks,

I have some seed that has just sprouted within the last day or two when the temps hit the upper 50s. Tonight is forecast to get down to 15 degrees.

Should I take action?

What do you think, all you experienced WSers?

Thanks

George

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

gardenluv
16 years ago
what seeds sprouted?
kqcrna
16 years ago
George: What are they specifically?

Most hardy perennials and even hardy annuals can take a lot of cold without damage. But if they're tender ones, that's cold enough to do damage. If you tell us what they are we might be able to give better advice.

If indeed you do decide to give them protection, don't bring them into a heated house. My friend did that last year and they all died. Other options include covering with a tarp or blanket, or put them into an unheated garage.

Karen
Related Discussions
Cold, cold temps!
Q
Comments (44)
My rooster was getting frostbite regularly until I started rubbing vaseline on his comb and wattles and bought the heat lamp bulb. It's one of those really big red heat lamp bulbs people put in their bathrooms. It's 250 watts and just goes into a regular (but not plastic) socket. It cost me about $10 and has been well worth it. I only run it at night when it's below -15 and the odd day when it is that cold all day. The vaseline helps a lot too. He struggled fiercly until I started stroking his comb with the vaseline. Then he got really still and just stood quietly though the whole procedure. I think he likes it. I've done it a few times. It's necessary anyway, whether he likes it or not. I laughed the first time, as one of the lead hens came up really close, watching, and asking a quiet question. When she got in his face he gave her a little chirp without moving and she went away. I guess she was worried. It was so cute! I remember that about Thunder Bay. The things that do grow well there get HUGE due to the extra long daylight. The blackflies and mosquitoes are fierce but only for a very short period of time, then nothing. They get so bad in May they drive the moose out onto the highways. I saw my only real life bald eagle up north and up close. I actually had to use the break to keep from running into him with the car. He was flying down the highway in front of us. HUGE and gorgeous bird with a wingspan much larger than our car. I had no idea they were so big! I never have the camera when I need it!
...See More
Need advice about seedlings .OT :ALL of them
Q
Comments (3)
Yep better bring them in. I have a bunch of bee balm I am trying to figure out what to do with. I thought they were going to big enough to transplant when I got them but they are tiny sprouts so I guess I will leave them like they are until they are bigger. If you feel better come over in the morning and I'll give you a few. Patty is coming in the morning since we messed up with the citrus trees and I ended up with both the orange trees and she got both the lime trees so we have to swap on each, lol. I was going to plant them outside but I think I better wait til it warms up some more since they don't have a big root system yet.
...See More
OT : come play a game and win a gift
Q
Comments (151)
oh Susan I was just joking. I thought you were also hahahahahahaa SMILE and be happy. This is FUN...HUGS ANYBODY has any questions ..PLEASE ask....ALWAYS! ha ha not sure if I can answer it Dorothy. What do you mean? All the words on the collage used at least once? OK let me see if I can clarify the mistery: I made a collage with 25 pictures. Each picture has a name on what you see in the picture. YOUR job is to find the right word to each picture. You only have to write a word ONCE!! Then next time you post, you can use totally new words. Your goal is to get as many words matching the collage words as possible by the 18th. I keep track of the correctly guessed words of each one of you. Tonight I will tally up the scores after everone has posted...speack midnight lol. Just not sure how often you all wanna here the scores??? I do not want to discourage the players that did not guess a lot yet ;-) But like MJ when she guessed on the Frosty, she got a lot of other words just by guessing in that direction ...hint hint hahaha I will be back later Just to make sure nobody has any questions and FUN FUN FUN ...under the sun or snow or rain? Geeeeeee I rather have snow right now then rain. ta ta Lucy
...See More
More medical advice on decor/OT forum
Q
Comments (28)
I don't generally get sick often, either, but I'm used to "pushing through" whatever I've got because I have 3 kids, a PT job, 3 dogs...and a DH who works long (and inflexible) hours. I have now felt not-right for a month now, though, so on Monday I'm heading back to the doctor and asking to be tested for mono. I actually slept 13 hours last night, but I'm still dragging. Fortunately we are at our beach house in the pouring rain, so I'm just sitting around reading all day and watching the rain from the porch. DH commented to me earlier today "you never rest!" Well, duh. Since I arrived here 3 days ago with my youngest DD, I've emptied and "power washed" the porch, assembled 3 pieces of furniture, gone shopping, carried heavy night stands from garage to 2nd floor bedroom, and bought a headboard at a consignment shop with the intention to sand and repaint it before we leave on Sunday. Okay, maybe the headboard can wait. I don't know how to rest but I'm practicing today!
...See More
gee_oh_nyc
Original Author
16 years ago
So far here's what's sprouted:
Hardy geranium
Siberian Columbine
Atlasflower (Clarkia)
Schizanthus
Chinese Houses

I think the first two will be fine... really wondering about the 3 annuals mentioned.
Thanks so much
George
kqcrna
16 years ago
I agree that the hardy geranium and columbine will be fine, but I don't know about the last three. Clarkia does take a little light frost and survive but I don't know. I have doubts, but if no one gives a more definitite answer, you could provide some protection.

Also, if not all seeds have germinated, some may still emerge later.

Karen
gee_oh_nyc
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the advice Karen,
Here's what I'm thinking of doing...
The containers that have the Clarkia, Schizanthus, and Chinese houses will go inside a makeshift cold-frame made from two plastic storage drawers... I'll put the coldframe near a wall of the building foundation out of the wind and hopefully catching a little radiant heat from the building. Hopefully that will temper the drop in temperature.
Sound like a plan?
Peace
George
PVick
16 years ago
George - where are you that the temp is projected to go to 15Â° tonight? Here in Brooklyn, at 1:36 in the morning, it's 40Â°. They are saying it will get colder in the next few days, so a little protection for your sprouted annuals is not a bad idea. Hope all goes well ...

PV
kqcrna
16 years ago
George: I hope it worked out well for you. You might want to wait another few weeks before planting more annuals to avoid these frost problems.

It supposed to get cold again here, too. Thirty degrees now, 3 degrees by tonight, winds up to 50 mph. Thankfully I have no germinated seeds yet, though. But I guess I'd better get out the candles and flashlight in case we lose power again.

Karen
gee_oh_nyc
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi pvick, I got my days mixed up ... it's tonight (Sunday) with the forecast going down to 15 degrees here in Manhattan.
Pvick I hear you are quite the urban gardener. I have appreciated your advice in the past and may continue to do so.

Karen, ughh 3 degrees! Very windy here already. I hope your power stays on (and the heat with it)
Will let you all know how they do, but I think they will be fine.
Thanks again
Peace
George
PVick
16 years ago
Whew, George! Had me worried for a minute there! Yup, it's definitely cold tonight - 18Â° now, with a wind chill of -1Â°! The only annuals I have out so far are bachelor buttons and poppies, neither of which has sprouted yet.

That 68 degrees the other day didn't fool me - been there, done that. Kinda ticked me off , actually, because the heat was still on full blast in the subway cars.

I'll be starting more of my annuals in 2-3 weeks; hopefully, we'll be over these wide temperature swings. But one never knows ...

Let us know how your sprouters fare.

PV
kqcrna
16 years ago
The wind has died down and we didn't lose power. It's 11 degrees now, wind chill 3. And 3 to 5 inches of snow tonight, wintery mix tomorrow... Shouldn't spring have sprung months ago? Sure seems like it.

How did your plants fare, George?

Karen
gee_oh_nyc
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi Karen,
I don't have the heart to even look until temps get up around 40 again (which should be Wednesday here). There was some frost on the inside of one of the containers though.
Thanks for asking and I will let you know.
Peace
George
gee_oh_nyc
Original Author
16 years ago
Well aint Nature grand?!! I think they made it. Hard to tell right now if they have survived or are just frozen as they were... I guess the next few days will tell, but I'm hopeful.
Thanks all for your advice and thoughts.

Peace
George
clumsygrdner
16 years ago
Hey, ever since the cold spell more has sprouted in my containers and the sprouts that had already grown are actually bigger!
ghoghunter
16 years ago
I have sprouts too that look like they have made it through the cold spell! Mine are Salvia Hormium, Silene, Helenium, and Dianthus. Mother Nature sure is amazing isn't she? I want to sow more this weekend. I think I am going to sow some of the hardy annuals I have since the Salvia survived so well.
Joann

Related Stories

LIFE Get the Family to Pitch In: A Mom’s Advice on Chores

By Alison Hodgson

Foster teamwork and a sense of ownership about housekeeping to lighten your load and even boost togetherness

FUN HOUZZ Double Take: Did That Chair Come From a Ski Lift?

By Becky Harris

Clever homeowners find ways to repurpose chairlift seats indoors and out

NORTHWEST GARDENING Pacific Northwest Gardener's February Checklist

Let witch hazel cast its spell, shut off your mason bees' snooze button and hit up the nursery for seeds and roses

LIFE Improve Your Love Life With a Romance-Ready Bedroom

By Mitchell Parker

Frank talk alert: Intimacy and your bedroom setup go hand in hand, says a clinical sexologist. Here's her advice for an alluring design

LIFE The Polite House: On Dogs at House Parties and Working With Relatives

Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter gives advice on having dogs at parties and handling a family member’s offer to help with projects

WINTER GARDENING Pruning Secrets for Exquisite Roses

By Annie Thornton

Encourage gorgeous blooms year after year with this time-tested advice on how to prune your rosebush in winter for health and shape

MOST POPULAR My Houzz: Open-Air Living in the Mountains of Bali

Community, jaw-dropping beauty and sustainability come together in a tropical paradise for a London expat

DECORATING GUIDES Feel Free to Break Some Decorating Rules

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Ditch the dogma about color, style and matching, and watch your rooms come alive

GARDENING GUIDES Garden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom

LIFE You Said It: Imagine It Empty and More Tips of the Week

By Becky Harris

Home projects from the past week can help you break through a creative block

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting