Plantknitter, with more wind, if it is an E, N or NE wind as we usually have in these events, that causes the humidity dew point to drop way off. This is why you don't see actual white frost on anything even if the temperature is well below freezing. Usually though, this is actually more destructive to plants than frost that occurs under calm conditions and high humidity (i.e. a usual white "frost"), because the very dry air causes plant leaves to become dessicated and frozen at the same time: moisture cannot reach the plant tissues and they die. It really depends on the plant though, and some other factors. Plants with tough fleshy leaves, including many succulents, can handle this better than a frost with high humidity. Plants with delicate leaves, especially those from the Southern Hemisphere, and some bamboos, would do better in a frost with high humidity because their leaves would not be so dessicated. This is a huge generalization but you get the idea. Even if it is below freezing, the very cold winds do keep the temeprature up compared to what it could be, because mixing of the air prevents radiational cooling. So while last night it was blowing all night and the temperature was 28-32F for many of us - if it just stopped at some point, with the arctic air in place, the temperature would drop right off, especially in sheltered valleys where radiational cooling typically brings very cold temperatures. Slopes with good air drainage and places very close to the water usually do not experience such severe lows when radiational cooling occurs. This is what may happen tonight, and certainly tomorrow night, if the wind ever dies off. Surprisingly, I'm not seeing the temperature fall like a rock anywhere just yet. It is still too windy in most places. The South Sound, which is often the coldest, is still experiencing strong winds that are keeping the temperature up around 30. bboy, point taken but #1 it makes more sense to ignore the tops of the mountains since no one lives or gardens there #2 really all you are doing is pointing out the inadequacies of the USDA zone system for our region, which I would agree with. But you could just as well say that Sunset, with only two zones for western Washington's lowlands, is oversimplified as well. #3 if we figured everywhere was in the same zone as the land all around it, we would only have one zone.

Great to hear from you guys in double Mexico. Our weather I think is the same os ours. We are having a late spirt on our tommies, and I think it's too late for thhe fruit fly and the red spider mite seems to have died off. I hope we get some late ones. Can't wait for the Blueberries Cosmi van tutti, Just let us know the weight roughly, and I;l send ya some stamps. It's a pity youze all couldn't be at Marysville, we had a lovely time. I'm pushing for white coats and clipboards for next year, should be another hoot. Like everyone else, we're a bit over tommies at the moment, but I could do with a few in a cuppla weeks. I've made relish, sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, passata, dried, bottled and green pickle; not to menton the cowering neighbours. I instill a false sense of security by brandishing a few manky snow peas, and when the ooohs and aaaahs start, I go for the jugular with the tommies and the butter beans. Visible blanching all 'round, but it beats trying to eat 'em yourself.

Just catching up on this thread because Rutherglen is not possible for me, but Victoria isn'nt that far. And the 12th March is my birthday and it might even be spring in Tassie by then, so if novice tomatofreaks are welcome, I'd probably make it! Maybe you should change the title of the thread otherwise other southerners might not catch it. I think Tasmanian Tommies are welcome in Vic? Cheers Linda

Main event I'm thinking should be Saturday afternoon, from lunchtime onwards. Then people can do whatever they fancy the rest of the time. For those interested, there are other times to meet up for dinners (I think there's a restaurant in Marysville) or whatever. This is only a suggestion. Feel free to chime in. I do think however that it would be best Sat/Sun, rather than Fri/Sat. Some, the unfortunate ones, have to work. But your arrival/departure dates are up to you, as long as accommodation works. The other thing to work out is getting people from Melb airport to Marysville and back again.