The theory is that anything germinating outside will be tough.

I'm not quite that trusting ;). If not too much trouble, I'd put the pots/containers in my unheated garage just for the duration of the cold front...I've moved seedlings and rooting cuttings inside mine more than once. Right at freezing or slightly below and you wouldn't need to worry, but single digits is very cold. Just don't forget them and leave them in the dark too many days.

Low 20's and I might just toss an old tablecloth over the containers but again, single digits is a very harsh temperature.

Yean, I agree with morz. I usually don't baby my containers at all, but single digits for sprouts migh be kinda rough. If you do have unheated garage space I think I would move them in there. Although on second look, I see you are referring specifically to cabbage... hmmm.

I never moved my containers, mostly because I normally have 250 or so, but mine are on the asphalt driveway right against the cinderblock foundation of the house, so they are a bit more protected and warm. And I HAVE gone out and covered them with blankets, sheets, tablecloths, etc., in situations like yours. But again, if you can move them, at least for the harsh cold spell, I think I would do it. You know, if you have enough seedlings, I might try an experiment - leave a few of the cabbage seedlings out, and move the rest. It would be interesting to see how the seedlings do without further protection.

How did yours fare? I lost a decent number to those temps because I did not cover. Grrrrr Would covering them with a thick tarp help next time? Moving them is not a very feasible option. At least I have more seeds for most items. :)

Well, I put them by a window in our unheated garage, where they are still residing because we had a foot of snow after I brought them in. The cabbage has all sprouted and they look fine. I'll put them back out once this snow melts a bit and I can see some ground on which to set the containers. What a winter!

I covered mine with a sheet and only lost some in one container.

That sounds awesome, SG. What zone are you and at what temp do you cover? Coffee, I am glad yours are ok!

I am in zone 7b, upstate SC. Temps got down to the 20's. We are back around 32 for lows and they do fine uncovered now.

My penstemon and agastache sprouted before the cold spell and now they are no more. :-( So I am sproutless now. In the future I will haul the sprouted containers into the garage.

lois, next time if it gets cold, and you don't want to move all your containers, try a row cover. they protect up to 20 below.

@coffeehaus, you have challenging weather for ws -- mild enough to get sprouts relatively early but also dips into the cold. The last two winters here it's gotten cold and stayed cold. March 28 and we're getting snow flurries.

Caryltoo...right you are! Two days ago it was 70F, and tonight our predicted low is 20F. My transplanted WS cabbage seedlings will be enjoying some time under the shop lights, but we have used nearly every available sheet/blanket/piece of plastic to cover the direct-sown sprouted seedlings in the garden (snap peas, carrots, beets, spinach, arugula, daikon, etc.). That's the chance you take with early sowing.