I took in my tender plants at the end of September. I thought about covering some of the plants in the ground but didn't think it was worth it at this point of the year. There was no frost here anyway.

These were just my things in pots - although I did try to throw a sheet over my raspberry patch that has been producing gangbusters with more to go. 1 sheet was not nearly enough, but thankfully I didn't need it anyway and saved myself some laundry!

A friend is an extreme gardener with many potted tropicals in the summer. She has to rent greenhouse space to over winter things!

We had a pretty good frost 10/14 so yesterday morning the ground was pretty white. I had to be out all day so I don't know if the pepper plants in my high tunnel survived or not. I only put Agribon over the middle row. The cherry tomato plant next to the house is a goner. I left my prostrate rosemary out but usually it can handle lower temps to about 18F. The question is whether I can bring it inside and have it survive. I think it's going into the high tunnel. I overwintered a regular rosemary by swaddling it in Agribon in the high tunnel. I'm the cold side of zone 5 near Concord NH. We are in a low lying area so get frost before our neighbors up hill from us. Also have a lemon verbena to try to over winter. I know it goes dormant so a spot in the garage might work if I keep it watered. I've done it before.

My houseplants are still outside, although the sansevierias in the front yard have been covered with row cover ever since we had night-time forecasts in the low-40's weeks ago. They're on the ground which is still warmish so I'm not particularly worried about them since they're covered.

The other houseplants are on the deck and I moved them all under the overhang and sat them on cardboard or tarp to keep the pots/roots somewhat insulated. I think the overhang (plus one patio umbrella) helps to limit radiational cooling.

Every time I think I should bring them into the house, the forecast promises warmer weather coming. We've had a frost advisory but it didn't happen at the coast and they're talking daytime temps in mid-60's to low 70's for the next six days.

Light is limited inside, even with added lamps, so I want them to stay out as long as possible. I figure if I can still eat out on the deck (with the help of several layers of fleece) the plants will be OK.

Claire

The forecast around here is for it to go up to around 80 (!) for M-T-W! OK...

Just because it hit 80 during the warmest part of the day doesn't mean it couldn't hit a frost at night. You still need to stay on your toes.

We had a light frost about two week ago that I covered things for, but Friday night it got down to 28 degrees here, so anything that I hadn't brought in is now toast. I need to finish planting the pot ghetto and clean out the veggie garden, but have been sick for a couple of weeks, so everything is just sitting, waiting for me to regain some energy. In truth, I was ready for frost, and this is about typical timing for our first hard frost.

This is what the 10-day Weather Underground forecast looks like now. Warm nights too until next Saturday - I just hope that chance of rain doesn't fade away like it usually does.

Claire

Open areas got hit hard the other day. Plants under trees and close to house are still fine. My bird bath was not under a tree and got some ice.

No frost here yet along the CT shore area. Still, I pulled up a Cherokee Purple tomato plant that was in the long garden and looking sad and got rid of the cherry tomatoes on the deck. We still have a Brandywine tomato growing next to the deck. It has about 20 huge tomatoes on it. (Any good tips for ripening them indoors?) We've already made two pots of spaghetti sauce and soups ... I don't know how much more our freezer can hold.

I love to garden, but I surely don't mind putting the gardens to bed for this winter. It was a brutal summer with all of that heat. Right now we are getting bands of rain showers. Finally.