Well l live in the Midlands, and mine are planted, I went on what Monty had said before, that when Chelsea flower show was on, we were safe from frosts.

I'd be very surprised to see more frosts anywhere in England. The outlook is for warmer weather at the weekend, no sign of an icy blast through next week, and by then we're well into June. I planted out all the tenders last week. I've been holding off because we've had some cool nights the last couple of weeks although no actual frosts in my garden.

But I have to ask? White chocolate cosmos? I've got a brown one. Do I need to go shopping again?

Also, everything except the impatiens would survive a slight ground frost, maybe a bit nipped but nothing serious. Impatiens turn to mush right at freezing.

No way!

In reply to Shrubs' query about 'white chocolate cosmos', here's the situation:
...Yes, they really do exist! I had no idea they existed myself initially and I admit I went into Homebase in early April to buy a white cosmos (not chocolate) called 'Sonata White' but there on the seed rack I spotted these 'white chocolate cosmos' so I bought them instead. I dislike the purply/brown colour of the well-known chocolate cosmos so I was pleased to see these particularly as they are smaller than most cosmos at around 2'-2.5' which appeals to me as I have a small garden. I cannot tell you how nice or otherwise they are yet until summers end!

Well, here in Northamptonshire on a slightly exposed site I lost half of my newly planted out beans during the night of 1st to 2nd June a few years ago. Since then I always plant out with frost/slug protection (cut off lemonade bottle) over each bean.

For phenology observers, who plant according to other occurences in nature, there is the old adage: 'When May is out, winter's lost its clout.'

The 'May' refers to Hawthorn and ours has just started flowering here in the hedge. I also think we are safe, but, just in case, a bit of fleece or even a sheet of newspaper draped over plants could make all the difference should we get another cold night.

Thank you to everyone.
re galina's comments about frost protection (if needed). I have never done this before can anyone advise me further? Do you put the fleece/newspaper all over the plant including touching/covering its leaves and young buds. Can you confirm that you don't just put it on the ground to protect the roots. I thought I'd read once that if fleece touches the plant leaves and buds that it is bad for them, but I'm a novice on these matters. Thanks.

Ideally you would rig a system to suspend the fleece so that it covers but doesn't touch the plants, but who has that kind of time when the 10 o'clock news says there's going to be a frost! I just lay it over or around the plant and fasten it down or tie it on. You can get fancy if you're going to leave it on all winter :)