Winter effects on table tops?

Judy McConnell 5/4/2016, 10:25 am

A year or so ago, I read about strawberry plants freezing in table tops. So -- last fall I moved my strawberries to a ground bed.

Being in zone 7, I wonder if there are plants that would survive in tts over a bad winter.
My initial thought is NO - everything would freeze.

Have you had any luck overwintering plants in tts?

countrynaturals 5/4/2016, 10:42 am

Judy McConnell wrote:A year or so ago, I read about strawberry plants freezing in table tops. So -- last fall I moved my strawberries to a ground bed.

Being in zone 7, I wonder if there are plants that would survive in tts over a bad winter.
My initial thought is NO - everything would freeze.

Have you had any luck overwintering plants in tts?

This will be my first winter, and ours are mild (zone 9) but I plan on stringing Christmas lights around mine on any nights it gets down to freezing -- probably wouldn't help on really cold nights. Sad

At least our tt's should be easy to cover with clear plastic. I'll be interested to see what the experts say about this.

**walshevak** 5/5/2016, 9:46 pm

Zone 8 here and I have covered my TTs in plastic and had kale, chard and collards overwinter. Strawberries made it through one winter but not the next by completely covering them in 3" of straw. I have wondered if I covered all the way to the ground instead of just the tops I might block winter winds under the beds and increase survivability.

Kay

ralitaco 5/6/2016, 12:39 am

I have Tabletop beds, but I haven't TRIED to keep anything over winter, however, I did have several herbs and my swiss chard do fine. Lemon Thyme, Sage and Basil, I believe.

In 2 of my beds, I put a 1/2" sheet of styrofoam on under the weed cloth. I would think it would be beneficial to also enclose the bottom of the TT beds to keep the air underneath a bit warmer. Plus you could store bales of straw or something beneath them to act as an insulator.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 5/6/2016, 1:47 am

My table tops have done fine for 4 winters - however, we're 9a/9b zone and have had a max low of 22 degrees in that time.

I only plant winter hardy veggies in them.

Strawberries have done great.

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Winter effects on table tops?

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