FROZEN MELS MIX!!!!!

Sowed the following seeds last weekend in my newly built 4 x 4 bed.

Carrots
Peas
Spinach
Lettuce

Our last average frost date for my area is April 14, so I was planted the above about 3-4 weeks before my last frost date. We had a light frost earlier in the week, but last night the temps got down below 20!! Suppose to get into the mid 30's today then back into the 50's with lows in the highs 30's-40 for the foreseeable future. Was checking thing out this morning and the top inch or so of my Mel's mix is frozen. I know what I planted is fairly frost hardy, but now sure how they will handle a freeze like this? Nothing has germinated or started growing yet, but concerned the freeze last night may have destroyed the seeds I planted last weekend? What say you guys/gals?

Seeds are tough.  It's the tender sprouts that are usually the issue.  If they had not started to germinate they may be just fine.  Only time will tell.  If you are not willing to wait and see, you can reseed when it warms up in a few more days.

Big Terp, I wouldn't worry about it.  GG's idea is a good one - just plant more when it warms up.

My last frost date is about the same as yours and, with the exception of carrots, I planted the exact same things last Wed.  Then came torrential rains.  Today I planted beets and chard in sleet with snow on the way. The only thing I'm going to do in a few minutes is put a board over my planted squares to keep the snow off.  I don't think it will make any difference either way but I just can't stand the idea of snow on my planted squares right now.    We've had way too much of the white stuff this winter.

You could always throw a blanket or a piece of plastic over them if you feel like warming them up.  Just remember to take it off when it's sunny.

CC

+1 regarding what CapeCodess said about removing tarp when it gets sunny.  Earlier in fall I froze some fennel and then scorched them all to death.  It was quite tragic.  

Thanks all!! I figured that seedlings are pretty tough, and I'd be more concerned if things had already germinated and broke the surface. I'll just wait to see what happens. Hoping they will be ok. I have a watering bucket full of warm temperature water. Should I go ahead and water with that today? Or leave things alone until it warms up tomorrow?

My bed thawed out nicely by noon today. Went ahead and watered with some room temperature water. Just wait and see how things turn out. Just got some onion sets I need to get in the ground in the next few days as well.

Sometimes it is just a wait and see time. Let us know how things turn out.

When should I except to see some signs of life? Planted everything on 3/22. I'm figuring if they survived I should see some signs of germination/seedlings by this Sunday?

I would think by Sunday also.

If you want, you can gently move away some MM, maybe with the point of a pencil and see if any seeds are sprouting.  There is a chance that if the seeds had sprouted, the sprouts were not affected by the freeze in that it may not have been at 20 degrees long enough to kill them off.  Since these are cool weather crops, if the seeds had not sprouted, I believe they would survive.  I had lettuce go to seed in the fall one year.  The seeds basically sat on top of the ground all winter.  There were the typical days of freezing and warming between full winter and spring, and I did nothing to protect them.  They grew wonderfully without any intervention, except I thin them out because they were very densely self sown.

I read on another post on this forum that they put carrot seeds in the freezer and then plant later.  Their carrots grew fine.  One thing with disturbing carrot seedings is that you would get twisted or bent carrots.  It wouldn't affect their taste or growth other than the bending or twisting.  It would also be a cool conversation thing.

An option you have is to plant more seeds almost right next to where you planted the others so you wouldn't disturb the first set in case they do want to grow.  That way you will not have wasted the six days, just in case the first batch don't grow.  If the first and second batch grow, you can just trim off the tops of the second batch.

But I think you have a good chance that they will make it.  You have to let us know though.

Thanks for the informative post!! I'll be patient and wait them out to see what happens.

Tricia, that was very good advice.  I learned a thing or two as well!

Oh good, thank you!  I learn so much from others, it is nice to know that sometimes I can share something useful also.

Still no signs of life, but I'm sure things will be sprouting shortly. Hi's of 58, 52, 72, 72, 55, 58 and 62 for the next week. Hopefully spring is finally here!!

Got my onion sets in last night. 4 squares worth for a total of 36 plants. Anxious to see how these turn out. Have 3 different varieties. Super Star, Candy and Red Candy Apple.

Nice looking box. Keep the faith, any day now!

Your box and Mel's mix look textbook perfect!  I'm sure you'll have much success.

Thanks all. Hopefully it produces as good as it looks!!!

Your carrots can take over 21 days to germinate and a week or so longer for any sensible growth to show if the ground is below 50 oF even then they are still a bit slow till you get the ground up to about 53 oF .

Good advice Plantoid, as always!

I agree with Windmere about how perfect you bed looks! I love to plant starts like your onions because it sure makes me feel like I am being successful. Then when the other things start breaking the surface, that is even more exciting!

plantoid wrote:Your carrots can take over 21 days to germinate and a week or so longer for any sensible growth to show if the ground is below 50 oF even then they are still a bit slow till you get the ground up to about 53 oF .

Thanks!! Ground is definitely below 50. At this point the only thing I'm concerned about is my lettuce. Peas, carrots and spinach all seem to be able to be direct sowed in the garden very early, so I'm sure they'll be fine. Just need to be patient!!

Triciasgarden wrote:Good advice Plantoid, as always!

I agree with Windmere about how perfect you bed looks!  I love to plant starts like your onions because it sure makes me feel like I am being successful.  Then when the other things start breaking the surface, that is even more exciting!

Thank you!! I probably over planned my garden a bit. But only doing one 4x4 bed I wanted to make it as productive as possible. Only time will tell how things turn out. Never thought I could be this excited about gardening.

Well, it looks great, BigTerp!  And we're just as excited as you are!

(While we have our own gardens, we also live vicariously thru other's gardens.)

AtlantaMarie wrote:Well, it looks great, BigTerp!  And we're just as excited as you are!

(While we have our own gardens, we also live vicariously thru other's gardens.)

True, and true.

Took some soil temperatures late last week and everything was around 60 degrees in early evening. Over the weekend I got all of my spinach sprouting (3 squares) and 1 square of Simpson lettuce sprouting. Still waiting on my carrots (2 squares), peas (2 squares) and 2 other varieties of lettuce to show some signs of life. I'm sure it's just a matter of time at this point though. I'll try to remember to get a picture or two. Thanks for the encouragement!!!

Oh doesn't that just inspire you!  Congratulations BigTerp!

Peas are now up as well as my carrots. Doesn't look like all of my carrots germinated, but it still may be too early to tell. Either way, I'll have plenty. Ended up replanting my buttercrunch lettuce and caeser lettuce as neither of those germinated for whatever reason. Also thinned down my spinach to half, and replanted to have a continual type harvest. Planted 2 squares of potatoes and now my SFG is full. Installing my trellis for my peas and beans this evening. Things are looking up!!