do I need to cover cold weather crops

lisaphoto 3/23/2011, 2:26 pm

So far all I have out is broccoli, peas (just sprouting), spinach, blueberry plants in pots, and onions. After being in the 70s this week, we are expecting the high to drop to the 40s and the lows to drop to the high 20s. Will every thing be okay, since they are all cold weather crops, or do I need to cover them. I don't really have anything to cover them with other than milk jugs. Will they work?

boffer 3/23/2011, 2:32 pm

They should be OK, but for peace of mind you could cover at night with an old sheet or plastic or large garbage bags or old clothes or.... sfg smile

madnicmom 3/23/2011, 2:38 pm

Hi Lisa, I'm just south of you in Trenton. I plan on giving my boxes some cover this week also. I seen one night is expected down to 28. Burrr!
I have broccoli, cabbage plants, luckily the peas just got planted on sunday.

lisaphoto 3/23/2011, 6:00 pm

It didn't help that we got pea sized hail today, and now there is a tornado watch. Oh well, the worst that could happen is I'll have to buy a few more transplants

BackyardBirdGardner 3/23/2011, 9:12 pm

I would cover them if it were me. Upper 20's spooks me a bit. If covered, they should do just fine. But, tossing a blanket over those milk jugs won't hurt.

Tomorrow night, I get to put my plastic back on the hoops and bring the tomatos back inside for a spell. I never thought we were through with covering our plants. But, this week has been a pure gem!

madnicmom 3/24/2011, 9:13 am

BYBG, Lisa and I have low's in the upper 20's all week! At least that is what cincy ch 12 news said this am. Ack!!!

lisaphoto 3/24/2011, 9:51 am

Never got a chance to get around to covering anything, there was lightning storms and all kinds of craziness yesterday. So we'll see if everything is destroyed at the end of the week. I'm not out more than $10, so if I have to redo it I will. Keeping my fingers crossed

nancy 3/24/2011, 9:55 am

Channel 12 also said this morning that we will get another frost this week. Joy. But I'm not covering my beds. With it being away from the house, I can't get down there in the morning to uncover them. If they aren't hardy enough, I can always replant. Altho' this is the 3rd attempt at peas! Sad

madnicmom 3/24/2011, 9:56 am

I have one damaged cabbage plant from that storm. I was at work and couldn't do anything but ask Mother Nature to go easy on the plants. do I need to cover cold weather crops 714994

do I need to cover cold weather crops 714994

Weatherkid 3/24/2011, 9:57 am

Here in Maryland a few days ago the ten day forecast had all the lows way above freezing... but now the forecast through the early part of next week are lows in the upper 20s. Sad

I think I'll have to cover the swiss chard, onions, and maybe kale.

Oh, how many days below freezing can cold weather crops take? Say, if spinach can withstand 25°F, how many days of 25°F temps can it take?

lisaphoto 3/24/2011, 11:02 am

Just checked on everything. Some broccoli leaves were a little tore up from the hail. I only had enough milk jugs to cover half the broccoli. So I'll take this on as an experiment and see what does better. Everything looked fine, I'm just hoping it doesn't keep getting colder.

Glendale-gardener 3/25/2011, 1:01 pm

The only stuff above ground for me is lettuce, brussel sprouts and pansies and none seem to have been affected by the hail. But now we're expecting up to 3 inches of freaking snow this weekend?!?! You've got to be kidding me, Mother Nature!

Glendale-gardener 3/25/2011, 1:03 pm

Should I just cover the lettuce and sprouts, (oops I also forgot about the strawberries)? Or should I cover the beds with seeds as well before the snow comes? I have carrots, peas, asparagus, and spinach in. I have some hoops and some clear tarps.

madnicmom 3/25/2011, 1:21 pm

The only thing about ground for me are the broccoli and cabbage and I covered them and plan to keep them cover til this wonderful weather of ours passes. When I saw John Gumm say 3" saturday night/sunday morning - my heart just about sank! ACK!!

Glendale-gardener 3/25/2011, 1:35 pm

I know! I was already bummed enough about the cold snap, then hail, but snow? Right now I'm dying to get up and pot up some of my seedlings but I can't really even do that because my germy kids gave me some kind of stomach bug! Maybe I could talk DH into dragging a bucket of MM into the kitchen for me!? do I need to cover cold weather crops 418730

do I need to cover cold weather crops 418730

madnicmom 3/25/2011, 2:11 pm

((HUGS)) Hope you feel better soon!

BackyardBirdGardner 3/26/2011, 1:10 pm

nancy wrote:Channel 12 also said this morning that we will get another frost this week. Joy. But I'm not covering my beds. With it being away from the house, I can't get down there in the morning to uncover them. If they aren't hardy enough, I can always replant. Altho' this is the 3rd attempt at peas!

You're forgiven. You've been through enough already.

My hope is for the weathermen to miss. We are now forecast to hit 27F on back to back nights. I left town without covering my garden with a 2nd layer and hope I don't pay the price. We'll see....

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