Everything survived!

16 years ago

So I had been obsessing about the weather forecast for this past weekend, particularly considering that I was going to be away. Covering and uncovering the containers just wasn't an option. So, thanks to good advice from some of you here, I decided to take tiffy's "no coddling" approach. I held my breath and figured what will be, will be.

I came home after two nights of 26 degree temps and found everything alive! I have probably 60-70 containers with sprouts. I had been particularly worried about the annuals that I mistakenly sowed too early. Even my sunflowers, snapdragons, nicotiniana and cosmos survived. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you and vow that I will not be a nervous nelly any more! Winter sowing really works, even after the containers have sprouts in them. I'm really glad I had faith in the process and decided not to take any action. I learned a lot from the experience.

Thanks again,

Lisa

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Comments (3)

token28001
16 years ago
Nicotiana is a hardy annual for me. Mine from last year survived well into the winter before turning to mush.

See, not fretting is easier than worrying and trundling containers in and out and blankets and such. Just leave them be. What happens, happens and it's easier not to obsess.
topie
16 years ago
Hi Lisa, thanks for posting the update! Reading about everyone's experiences is helping me learn about how to handle different weather situations.

I was a nervous "sprout mom" and did end up covering my sprouted perennial jugs, and bringing my sprouted hardy annual jugs into the garage during that frost on Friday night. Looks like maybe I didn't have to...

Some seeds I only had sown one jug of though, so figured I didn't want to risk it. But your experience in my same Zone does give me confidence that it's probably fine to just leave them out there uncovered during frosts!

Thanks again for the update.
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craftlady07
16 years ago
I'm glad to hear that everything survived the cold!!

I'm not 100% sure we actually had frost here (I'm in the lehigh valley) but I know the temps did get into the low 20's both nights. I just covered the sprouts with grocery bags that I put on about midnight and removed about 9am both days. I only have 39 containers and I have sprouts in about 10 of them, so it wasn't a big deal to group them together and throw a bag on top. if I had more to worry I probably wouldn't have bothered.

~Andrea