Hello from Canada!

cammyjane10 3/16/2013, 1:17 pm

Hello from Kamloops BC!

I just built a little hoop cover for one of my beds (4x3) and I was wondering if there's a rule of thumb as to how much earlier I can plant under it? Our part of town is a warm zone 5 - days are warming up to 15C but nights are still dipping down to -5C (~60F to 25F)

Thanks!

**Firefly** 3/16/2013, 3:19 pm

Zone 5 has an official frost date of April 15 but under cover it tends to be several degrees warmer (well after a few days of having the cover up). Personally, I like to stick a thermometer inside just to keep an eye on the temp. One year it was about 10C outside but thanks to sun and plastic almost 20C inside the covered area. It's thought that you can plant about a month earlier if your protection is sufficient enough.

GWN 3/17/2013, 10:46 am

WELCOME Cammie jane
I live just down the road from you, out on the north shuswap,
Last frosts actually have nothing to do with zones. The gardening zone is actually how cold it gets in the winter and the last frost is an average of when the last frost occurs.
Took me awhile to figure out that one.
In Kamloops I would think it would also depend on how high up you are, Sahali, vs downtown area.
We are zone 5a out here and our average last frost date is May the 7th. Even though it has been very warm lately.
As far as planting, many crops tolerate a little colder nights, whereas for things like tomatoes one degree under zero that THATS IT.
I have grown under hoops here, but it really was hit and miss. That being said my peas have already come up in my beds. What are you planting

cammyjane10 3/17/2013, 5:26 pm

Hi! We live in Westmount (right under Bachelor Heights) so we get Spring before almost everyone else in the city Smile

I don't have a good window (nor the equipment) to start plants inside so I thought I'd build a little hoop tent in lieu and see if I could get some greens coming up a bit earlier. I have three kale plants that weathered the winter uncovered and are leafing out nicely! I didn't know they were perennial Smile

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