Took my own advice.

Hi! I wanted to respond because I'm in the same dilemma, but all mine died last time I covered them. So, I figured I was in no position to answer! :-( I put empty pots and window boxes over mine this time. Stupid April!

Are you taking your coverings off during the day or leaving them on? I just saw temps in the thirties during the day.

It's supposed to get no higher than 45 during the days and the boxes/bed is in the shade except for maybe an hour or so...I'm thinking of just leaving them covered and maybe raising one side up a tad for ventilation. I bought clear plastic file boxes that are plenty big to cover them and put them on last night - it was no more than 35 when they went on and got down to 20 last night so I figure they'll not fry with these temps like they would in full sun. Since it's getting so cold at night and I'm going to be out of town, that looks like the best I can do.

I agree. Anyway, what's the difference if it's light outside. If it's freezing, it's freezing. Poor things.

We're getting the same cold snap here and all day yesterday I waited for the temperature to even break 31° so I could take my makeshift covers off some flowers that had been coming up and a couple of young ornamental shrubs I planted last September that had started to leaf out. The wind chill was between 15-24° all day and the sun didn't bother rearing its head until it was almost time to set.

I kept coming up to my computer to check our weather station, and the temperature from 3 PM on just hung right around 30°. Bump a little higher, dip a little lower.

Happens almost every year, so I have no idea why I'm never better prepared for it. This summer I'm making some plant protectors with wood and landscape fabric that I can fold up and stow out of the way but have on hand when I need them.