skip to main content

Oklahoma Gardening

A Cold And Frosty Morning

Okiedawn OK Zone 7

15 years ago

I don't know how cold the rest of you are, but we're very cold here in Marietta and wondering where spring is hiding.

Last night they forecast 37-40 and no frost for us, which caused me to carry inside all the flats of tomato plants inside from the screened-in porch where they had sunned themselves all day while protected from the fierce winds. I was fairly sure "37-40 and no frost expected" meant about 30-34 degrees and at least a patchy frost (or worse). What did we get? Would you believe 26 degrees and a heavy, killing frost? Even the native sunflowers and milkweeds have frost damage this morning. They may not be frozen back to the ground, but they have damage to the top 3" or so of the foliage.

If there were any plums or peaches left on the trees following the previous 3 or 4 "late" freezes, there won't be any now.

So, if we're that cold and frosty here, I assume some of y'all must be cold and frosty too.

Dawn

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

laura_lea60
15 years ago
Hi Dawn,

VERY frosty here....I had your 26 and all periennals bitten too. We're in the river bottom in a gully and should have know better. I have nothing but onions in the garden so okay there. Will survey damage when home from work.

Supposed to be lovely afternoon. Will see you soon!

Laura
rjj1
15 years ago
It bottomed out at 24 here. I haven't looked at our fruit trees. It's one of those fine if they do fine if they don't things.

randy
Related Discussions
Hope we have frosty mornings...
Q
Comments (12)
Thought I had really jinxed us yesterday. It was 40Â°F when I checked in the morning. We got to the high 50s later. 30+ mph breezes made for an interesting day out there. 30Â°F this morning :) Pam, a neighbor told me I need to have a crew come in. Not a chance, Deb and I are the only ones that are allowed to work with our roses. The first thing I thought when I saw your post was you need a huge crew.... I imagine you wouldn't trust anyone else working around your roses either :) Hope you don't mind if I think "at least we don't have the task mendocino rose does" when I begin to feel overwhelmed. Kristin, I'll take our weather over yours any day :) Folks think I am joking when I say we have almost perfect rose growing conditions here. I'm not. Annececilia, we do get to see the sun a lot. Wind coming down off the 12 - 13,000 ft mountains just west of us eats the snow (compressional warming). That... or a chinook will blow through and wipe out the snow. Folks think I am crazy removing mounding this early. We will have cold weather before June. Our roses just do better when I get the mounding off early. Deb says she has plenty of jelly beans to share :) Kate, we have all kinds of flowers coming up too. That is another reason for getting the debris out of the beds. Glad we don't live close enough to Mr. Moore's place to visit. Didn't see a post listing what you brought home??? Debbie, Deb says hi and belated Happy Easter. Me too :) I'm having a great time playing out there. It looks like we could have the best year ever coming.... if Ma Nature cooperates. Oh no!! Knew I shouldn't have answered the phone! Gotta go do some digging. No playing out in the yard today *sigh*
...See More
Frosty morning
Q
Comments (5)
Beautiful! I like your landscaping which it appears as though you incorporated conifers and perennials. Very nice!
...See More
Frosty morning (many pics)
Q
Comments (9)
I love it when it looks frosty outside! Then the wind starts to blow and it all falls off! LOL Wonderful pictures Ron!
...See More
A few Frosty morning photos
Q
Comments (4)
LOVE those Ron! The hoarfrost on the vines(?) that look like dainty Christmas wreath is so neat. I'm sure a science guy could explain why negative and positive electrons in the moisture in the air and "grab" on to the frozen particles already there to make those "spikes"... but, to me, its still pretty strange and wondrous. And, most importantly, however and whyever it does it on occasion, its awfully beautiful when it does. Thanks for getting out there and sharing those.
...See More
owiebrain
15 years ago
I've no clue what we bottomed out at overnight this time but Poteau says low of 36 for about an hour this morning. We're 1/2 south of there and on the side of a hill so probably a bit warmer.

Rain gauge sayse we got another 1/4" again yesterday, too.

Diane
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
Original Author
15 years ago
Laura,

Oops! Those perennials should have stayed underground a while longer. Mine that were close to the house are OK, but the ones further away from the house were bitten back a little by the freeze too. Maybe we'll have the last freeze behind us before we all gather for the potluck dinner and swap!

Randy,

I hate losing the fruit again, but am getting used to it. I had three good years in a row with fruit in the early 2000s, but am paying for it now. The law of averages always wins out in the long-term, doesn't it.

Diane,

Send your excess rain here. LOL

Y'all watch out early Mon. a.m. and early Tues. a.m. because another freeze is forecast. In fact, I'm gonna start a thread on that in the hopes that it will slow down anyone who thinks this weekend is going to be a good time to plant warm-season crops.

Dawn
Macmex
15 years ago
I hear it was 28 F. here in Tahlequah, this morning. We had a pretty heavy frost.

George
elkwc
15 years ago
We were below freezing just after sunrise for less than an hour. 29 was the low. Just reminds me to be patient. Hopefully I'll get to eat a mess of asparagus yet. 75 here now. Jauy

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Winterberry Rouses Frosty Gardens

By Paintbox Garden

Energize dormant winter landscapes with this shrub's brilliant berries — and do right by hungry birds too

FEEL-GOOD HOME Simple Pleasures: Get Cozy on a Cold Day

By Laura Gaskill

Some things are best when the weather is bad. Heat up some cocoa and join the discussion

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Cold- and Heat-Tolerant Perennials and Shrubs for the Arid West

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

These flowering native plants shrug off the cold of winter and heat of summer while adding beauty to the drought-tolerant landscape

LIFE Houzz Call: How Are You Handling the Record-Breaking Cold?

By Mary Jo Bowling

Share your tales, strategies and photos for everything polar vortex

ARCHITECTURE 15 Smart Design Choices for Cold Climates

By Laura Gaskill

Keep your home safe and comfortable in winter by choosing the right home features and systems

It's Cold. We're Cranky. Buy Some Flowers!

By Becky Harris

15 Colorful Reminders That Spring Will Come Again

FALL GARDENING Frost-Hardy Foliage That Loves a Cold-Climate Garden

By Paintbox Garden

When winter cuts a bleak swath through other plants, these edibles and perennials flourish brilliantly

BATHROOM DESIGN Your Bath: Good Morning, Sunshine

By Jason Ball Interior Design

Here's How to Bring More Warm, Natural Light to the Bathroom

LIFE How Do You Make Your Tea and Coffee in the Morning?

By Victoria Harrison

A morning cup is a must for many, and preparation comes in many guises. We look at coffee and tea habits across the Houzz community

LIFE Late Again? Eliminate the Things Holding You Up in the Morning

By Emily Hutchinson

If you find yourself constantly running late for appointments, work and get-togethers, these tips could help

Sponsored

Landscape Management Group

28 Reviews

High Quality Landscaping Services in Columbus

More Discussions

Dawn on when to plant, circa 2014

0

February Week Two

80

February Week 3

74

February Week 4--Leap Day and into March

75

March second week 24

53