I only cover those plants that are beginning to leaf out, not those in tight pips. Remember that fragrant types with plantaginea in their background are more susceptible to frost/freeze. So give those extra attention.

Steve (whose long term forecast shows low temps all above 37*F !!)

tight pips just went thru a MI winter.. which is nothing like you have ...

IMHO ... they need no protection ...

unfurled leaves are lettuce-like .. and we dont keep lettuce in the freezer ... and the fridge is about 40 degrees .. i think ...

those will need protection ... from frost and freeze ...

ken

What they said! I've never had any tight pips get damaged by frost,only unfurled leaves. I am already beyond that stage in my garden,as most all hostas are leafed out,or in the process. Phil

Glad you asked - I've been covering tight pips and wasting my time. Live and learn.

First "hairy eyes" and now "tight pips". Hostaphiles are weird.

-Babka

I would cover the pips of the fragrant ones.

We've had a "whipsaw" spring, cold then warm and then cold again and again. Some of mine were damaged significantly - mostly the fragrant ones. I didn't cover them the first time we had the frost/freeze. I tried it later, but the demon doglet loved the row cover as a toy. On the young fragrant ones, it's like the pips just stalled out, quit growing and sent up new ones instead of continuing to grow. They are, of course, weaker and thinner than the original pips. The ones that were further along, like Royal Standard, is so damaged that it looks like it's diseased.

Fragrant Queen

Royal Standard

I can't tell you what the temps were, as I'm in the city and it stays warmer than the airport where the official temperature is taken. It bruised my ferns as well.

JMHO

bk