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Growing Tomatoes

Weekend Frost...Really? REALLY????

11 years ago

That is the prediction for West Michigan this weekend. Thank goodness I have not pushed the envelope too much this season. No Tomatoes or Peppers in yet. But some of my seeds are just barely popping through. Do you think I could hoe a little more dirt up next to them, even barely cover them.? Some perennials are up, should I be concerned about theses? Hostas, Coneflowers, Russian Sage, Allium, Blanket flowers?

Thanks
Diane

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Comments (9)

drtomato
11 years ago
I'm in the same boat. Low 30's for Sunday night. I won't plant till 1st of June anyways. Just hope my orchad don't get damaged like last year.
digdirt2
11 years ago
Far as i know the standard advice is to cover perennials when frost is predicted. That's what we do anyway.

Based on my reading and the posts of others here in your zone your normal last frost date is May 15-20 anyway so what seeds do you have planted?

Dave
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bigpinks
11 years ago
37 predicted for Sunday night here on the southernmost tip of Ohio....I'll prob fill a couple barrels with water and rinse with a spout can if they get hit....this will mostly fix a med frost....not a freeze tho.
dspen
Original Author
11 years ago
I have beets, spinach, peas, lima, carrots, chard, I am sure I have missed a few.. oh and okra. That has just popped through.

I will throw some sheets down. Our garden sits in a low area and it tends to be a few degrees cooler.

Will keep the tomatoes in their cozy little pots for another week or two.

I thought I had posted this on the Great Lakes forum. Sorry about that!!

Diane
timmy1
11 years ago
Beets, spinach, peas, chard will all take a hard frost. The carrots will take a light frost.

The okra and the lima will not.
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
11 years ago
34 predicted for here Mon am. Glad I hung in there with my WOWs. Looks like they'll be coming off Tues.
seysonn
11 years ago
I am sure my comment is too late, but 34F..37F is not frost..
I agree with Timmy on frost sensivity.
T ptotect plants of light frost, I would cover them with things like leave, straw... and invert an empty pot on them and put a weight on it( stone, brick..) All you want is to prevent the plant from cooling down by air movement around it. The the ground heat will take care of keeping the plant warm.
Another thing about frost warning type situation is that , the low temperature(say 30F) would normally be around only for couple of hours, no ALL NIGHT LONG.
edweather USDA 9a, HZ 9, Sunset 28
11 years ago
Excuse me, but frost can easily form at 34F. 32F will freeze, but I've seen frosts, albiet light, at temps in the mid to upper 30's. And all it takes is an hour or two of frost or freeze to kill a plant! Once ice is on the leaves, bye, bye plant. There is a less likelihood of frost on breezy nights because the air circulations keep mixing in warmer air from above. It's the dead calm clear nights when the warmth from the ground radiates straight up into space and the air right near the ground cools quickly causing frost.
dspen
Original Author
11 years ago
I covered everything that is peaking through with a nice layer of straw. Tonight should not be too bad, its Sunday night that I am worried about. Then look out next week....80's. go figure!

Still not putting my tomatoes in till at least another week. They are happy right were they are. Rutgers, Mortgage lifter, Brandy Wine, San Marzano, and Sun Sugar. I also have two Yummy peppers I am trying this year.

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