Sey --- Xmas lights are a pain in the neck. It's easier to crush some hand warmers --- which give off heat for several hours (some up to 12) and throw them on the ground after dark.

Tony

Yeah, I got lucky. Sey has some challenges.

Sey, the forecast keeps going lower and lower... down to 20 here on Wed. night. We're all anxious to hear if your plants make it.

Thanks , Tony, Janice and NC

It will be 3 cold nights, back to back. I am/will be fighting it out, not giving it up, though I have plenty of backup plants.

Today when it warms up to 55-57, I will take the cover off , literally bury the plants in pine straw ( and maybe put a blanket on them) and then put the cover back, air tight and leave it for 60 hours. I will take the cover off Friday noon time. The moment of truth . hehe

sey

Last year when I had to beat the late frost, I opted to purchase a propane heater. It was on sale, since it was early Spring, but still costs $50. I rationalized it because my family likes to camp and it is tent safe.

Mine are soaking up the sun today as forecast. Tonight they go back under covers. The plants are waterlogged from the rain. My understanding (hope I got this right) is the high moisture intake will benefit them tonight as the temps drop.

OK, Here we go. Final prep for 3 nights:

NOTE: There are just 8 plants , not all my plants. The rest moved into living room. I could not trust the garage when it gets down to 23F. It is unheated and not well insulated.

Come Friday noon, I will remove the cover.

Sey

I assumed you would have completely covered the plants with the pine needles. Being left exposed like that, I doubt they survive.

I hope they do.

Good luck Sey. This is a temporary setback. Your new climate will grow tomatoes so fast it will blow your mind. Even in these less than Ideal conditions, I am surprised at the growth.

Here are mine about 5:30, all bundled up after soaking up sun most of the day.

The low here will be 35 tonight.

gorbelly --- thanks for the advise on how to get rid of fungus gnats. The BTi Mosquito Bits I got are working great. I soaked 4 oz (inside of a sock) in a 2 gallon watering can for 24 hrs as you advised. Then, on the 12th drenched the soil on all plants. Today, there were just a few young gnats flying kinda of erratically --- vs 100+ big, fat, mature ones we had two weeks ago! Will repeat for total of three weeks per directions, to get rid of them all.

NC --- thanks for reaffirming they were Fungus Gnats!

Sey --- I'll bet come Friday your plants will be just fine (with all the precautions you took)!

Tony

p.s. we only got 6" of snow vs the 18" predicted --- so we are OK here.

Well folks, thanks for well wishes.

I have done my best under the circumstances.

What I have tried to do is to make the tent air tight so there is no infiltration of cold air. I have also a 100 watt light bulb in there to help.

Here is the situation. There will 9 hours where outside temperature will be in 32 to 23F range. ( from 12pm to 9am). So it iis not a 24hr around the clock freeze situation. Todays high got to 58F and tomorrow will get even warmer. The winds are getting calm and changing direction from NW to WNW.

Tomorrow night will be better ( Low of 26F) and the winds will be shifting to W , WSW.

I will take the tent off on Thursday. THE MOMENT OF TRUTH . hehe

sey

Today our "feels like" hovered around 39, which is not ideal for tomatoes. We also had very bright sun all day, and gusty. I was not comfortable when outside. While I wanted to keep the tomatoes warm, I didn't want the covers to turn into Easy Bake Ovens. So I made a decision I did not get to test until the commute home. I opened the car windows about an inch on each side, and turned off the heater. Then proceeded to drive home in the bright sun, and was quite comfortable. I kept this up until Bachman Turner Overdrive's "Head On Down The Highway came on" (because I had to listen to that). Then I closed the windows. In the incredibly bright sun, within minutes I was not comfortable with no ventilation.

I took the same sort of approach with the tomatoes. The frost warning was over about 10:00am, so I asked the husband to vent each cover by lifting one side an inch about 1030(he tolerated this). I wanted them to heat back up before night fall, so the covers were dropped back down at 4:00, getting a full hour of sun to heat up.

Right now because I am curious about how low the temps will go under the covers, especially compared to outside, I have placed two thermometers, one under a plastic cover, and one under a cardboard box. The thermometers are what I use for smoking meat, so there is a transmitter(also under a bit of straw). I will be taking/recording some readings to see if there is any temp diffferential at all. I also have a digital thermometer outside, visible from inside, I can get ambiant readings on.

Sey, your temperature range is wider. We did not see 58 today. I think being near the ocean moderates both ends.

Janice, as long as you don't see freezing temps, your tomatoes will be fine. Good luck to all. Here we go... low of 20 here tonight. (Charlotte)

Predicted low is 29/30.

Here are the temperatures:

Time. Ambient. Probe 1. Probe 2

9PM 35F. 47. 44

10PM. 32. 45. 43

10:30PM. 31. 45. 43

7AM. 25. 40. 37

'The covers, and probably the straw placed around them acting as insulation, provide really good protection.

Janice --- under cardboard boxes temps were higher, right?

Tony

I suspect, but don't know yet. I'll confirm Probe 1 when I pull them. I'll get a chance to run another test, though not as extreme. Temps are going to dip again tonight.

Based on my research, conditions for low temperature damage (frost) can exist at temperatures as high as 40. Doesn't seem intuitive, but it is many factors together that contribute.

Wow! I'm impressed by the level of risk taking, the mitigation efforts and the enthusiastic amount of effort to get a head-start on the season. I do enjoy this thread.

Shell 6A

Janice --- most tomatoes will survive 28 F, as long as there is no wind involved. Your covering them with boxes/buckets will eliminate that. You'll be fine.

Sey - I hope you are running the 100 W bulb nights only, or on sunny days you may cook them if running it 24 hrs under your triple tarp airtight canopy!

Shell --- I did the same with 5 tomatoes last year by planting them a month earlier (under clear plastic bells, as an experiment) since the weather forecast was showing high enough temps for the next 15 days. Then, the weather turned cold (28 lows, 38 highs) and had to cover them with cardboard box under each bell, than a much larger cardboard box over the bell, and old blankets on top --- for full 3 days and nights!

To make it short --- the rest I planted on May 10th (May 15th is our area's plant out date). They all caught up with the early ones and had better production. Two of the earlies got stunted (so got rid of them) and the other 3 caught diseases before the rest did.

My conclusion --- won't do it again in Maryland. It may be a payoff for the hot climate in the South, though....

Tony

That's been my experience too Tony. Not to mention the many severely catfaced tomatoes that will result from the first one or two trusses.

IFFY

The plants close to the tent on the side what wind had been blowing look IFFY. But few in other spots seem to be better.

There is one plant that has definitely made it. It is BRANDY BOY (F1).

I also have losses based on husbands reports. 5 of the 8 in the raised bed are lost. 3 or 4 of the 20 in the ground are lost. He says losses are both plastic and cardboard. I will take a closer look when I get home. I can envision the raised bed catching more turbulence. The outside digital thermometer in the wind measuring the ambient was a testament to the combined effects of wind on an already low temperature; 25F

I recall husband said two losses on the ground were first in row, more wind exposure I guess.

More details...

The circled covers are where the losses occurred with two exceptions. The x's were replaced with large plastic containers.

The losses happened with larger containers and larger boxes.

It was cold. (Credit to timeanddate.com)

'It was windy.(image credit to wunderground.com)

Either the larger surfaces allowed more thermal exchange (loss of heat) or they grabbed more wind like a sail and tipped, allowing breaches.

The survivors look really really good. There is only one that looks damaged. The losses are total. The non losses look perfect.

I may have lost all my Prudens Purples's, will have to check my inventory. I have many other backups in the house under the lights.

I approach this sometimes as a scientist, because I am one. However, I do get sentimentally attached to my plants. The losses are a little sad. It also takes quite a bit of planning and logistics to get everything covered/uncovered at the right time. I am positive this experience will weigh into my future planning.

Sorry Janice. I should know how you feel.

I think you got the same winds that I got :NW / MNW. It gusted real high at times, removing heat and cooling.

I am glad to hear that you have backups. I do too. So not to worry too much. We did challenge, won some, lost some.

Starting tomorrow it is gonna get back to normal. I will start planting out on Monday, checking all the forecasts. Happy St Patrick's day !

Sey,

I just spoke to a gal who gardens a lot, and she says we had a killing frost here in Charlotte about 10 years go on April 14th!

IMO, you will still be chancing it big time if you plant out your remaining plants on Monday. We are still too far away from the avg. LFD for this to be our last one.

Sorry to hear of your losses Sey and Janice. I understand why we do it!

Hey, how did the BFBS fare?

Thanks Sey. Same to you.

I checked my inventory and found a Prudens Purple. I am short on Brandy Boys. I'm doing OK. After picking 25 to back fill and finish plant out with, I have 12 spares for standby-by.

Wow! You guys are brave! I don't have back up plants and I bring mine indoor every night. Here in High Desert temp deeps to 37 next week so I'll babysit my plans probably till the end of the month... and then they are on their own.

Thank you for sharing your experience, I've learned a lot from you. :)

I thought I would share this one last photo. It shows how well covered the smaller covers were by straw. This was key. Any exposed surface worked to allow heat to escape. Smaller covers buried under lots of straw work best. I did not get to confirm whether the cardboard or plastic stayed warmer. The key is to use as small a cover as you can and then bury with as much insulation/hay/fabric/mulch as you have.

Janice, I appreciate your rigorous notes. This is great observation. Even those of us who don't need to push the envelope on plant-out can get caught out by freak frosts.

That is why I was surprised that Sey and you did not completely bury the plants with those pine needles and straw. I bet that would have saved the plants.

Still waiting. Haven't even ordered seeds yet so I don't get tempted.

80s in the day and 40s in the night.. haha that's nuts. that kind of weather would probably drive any plant nuts..

Ok, It is over. Final tally :

A- One escaped almost with ZERO harm . It was not even covered with straw. That is BRANDY BOY. The plants on its left and right got the bite. .

B- 3 more lost their tender growing leaves but few lover leave are fine. They have a chance to grow side branches.

C- 2 more are IFFY.

D- other 2 are probably total loss, I think. .

I would say that 50% were lost.

This was probably a record cold, two nights back to back. Not just a frost, but real deep freeze.

I will hold further planting until next Thursday. The forecast looks very good.

I Have sowed few more varieties to compensate for the ones I lost.They should be ready in 4 weeks.

Sey

Re: "That is why I was surprised that Sey and you did not completely bury the plants with those pine needles and straw. I bet that would have saved the plants."

Burying the plants would have worked well. I attempted to bury my containers. Those buried the most fared the best. I initially thought I only had a frost battle and a simple barrier would do. It turned out to be a little more than that. I did not expect to see a 25 on 15 March.

An ideal freeze barrier would be the thickest wall of stuff (needles, hay, tarps, blankets, whatever) you could drag to your garden and pile on. As long as the plant doesn't get crushed, the more the better.

In hindsight, I now know to forego a container, as long as I pile stuff on so that the plant isn't crushed. What would my future freeze apocalypse cover look like? Straw or hay or something to bury the plant in, and then covering with something smooth to keep the wind from disrupting the pile. I would also taper the edges to avoid any head winds directly bearing down on a vertical face.

On a lighter note --- Find the kitty in the photo.

Rest of March will be cold here, so the fireplace is stoked. I need more wood ash to finish covering the rest of the garden plots.

Janice and Sey --- you did your best, and we all learned a lot. Thanks for sharing!

Tony

I have one of those. She knows when I go to the garden and waits to taste what I bring back. Today she did something really bad, she nipped the top out of a pepper seedling. (I did find two Brandy Boys)

Tony, that picture is cute with your cat posing. hehe

You have good supply of wood,seems to me.

Yeah, Janice and I did some adventuring and learned from it. My low temperatures were much colder than what Janice's forecast showed. .

Anyway, I put all the plants (in the pots) in the garage. But the one already planted out just left open with no cover. No problem the low per forecast tonight is 46F.

Sunday night is forecast 34F. I will cover them. Same story and drill next Wednesday. Then I should be fine for the foreseeable future.

sey

Janice --- she is so adorable!

Sey --- that pic was 3 days ago. Here are today's (used about a third of the firewood stacked, and got only a 2 gal bucket of ash --- well seasoned oak and hickory! Will have to load it up again on Wednesday).

Tony

My plants survived , it got down to 35 here. I covered heavily with straw and pots, along with tarps and lights.

Nice fireplace Tony! Make me want to turn on my fake one, but it's too hot here, lol. In my crazy desert we use heaters at nights and ac during a day. :(

Kevin --- great job!

Elena --- thanks, I designed it with asymmetrical lead on the chimney, in order for the fireplace to be totally centered in the living room (there are 8 linear feet of skylights in a recessed ceiling). Highest point is at 14 feet.

Elena --- what are you growing and how many of each?

Tony

Wow Tony, that is one awesome fireplace I must say! :)

I'm a worse tomato grower ever, lol. Trying to find my perfect tomato plant for about last 10 years, hahaha! Weather here in a High Desert is very challenging and it hard to grow vegetables up here. We have a large temp fluctuation between days and nights in spring and fall, and about 105F in July. This when my plants get stunted and I give up. Only cherry tomatoes do fairly well here, I've tried a few varieties of larger sweet tomatoes but never succeeded. Some plants grew taller than me and didn't get any fruit, and a very few gave me 2-3 miserable tomatoes in entire season, lol. And not only that.... about three years ago I've got some kinda wilt disease and all my tomatoes were dying from the top down for two years in a row. So I gave up and switched to container gardening, covered all dirt with a bark and install about 20 half-barrel containers, bought new soil and finally got some tomatoes last year, yay!

So this time I decided to look for some early medium size tomatoes to bit the heat and ordered a few new varieties from Tatiana:

Bursztyn

Caraibo

Bychie serdtse (bulls heart)

Aunts Ruby yellow cherry

Ananas noire

and all my proven performants:

Early girl

Sweet million

Sweet hearts

Black cherry

Sun gold and Sun sugar

Super sweet 100

I only have 1-2 plants of each and for now bring them in and out, but will plant them out probably in a week or so. Right now they are in a 4" pots sunbathing on my front yard. Oh, forgot to mention, my small backyard is facing Northeast, so right now it doesn't get much sun because of the shade from the two story house and tall trees, another reason for me not to rush to plant them out till next month. Here is a picture of some of them :)

Happy gardening everybody, hope all your plants are doing great!

Today's seedlings. First sun-rays hit them at 11:31 am (pics taken at 6:15 pm) and the last ones just ended at 6:43 pm. 7+ hours of direct sunlight seems to make them happy!

Two of our four cats are in full protection mode...by sleeping underneath them.

Tony

Sey, since both of us are using wood ash --- here is an article about its benefits.

Key point: "Tomatoes seem to benefit especially from soil that has been mixed
with a small quantity of wood ash"!

Tony

http://www.humeseeds.com/ashes.htm

Thanks for the link, Tony.

My soil test results came in 2 weeks ago. My pH got up to 7.1 . But seems to be fine as they did not recommend any acidifier. Bu I had also tested some top soil by the creek. Its pH was 4.5. So I added some of that , to maybe lower the pH under 7.

The test showed more than enough P , K, etc. They just recommended adding 23-0-0. So the thing are ok. I have about a dozen or so cool crops and of course tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. They are ALL going just fine.

sey

Our first ripe tomato --- today, April 1st....

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Tony

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yeah, right Tony. They often do on April first. :)D