April 3rd 2016 freeze..24 deg F.

Need I say more ? They may have made it...cold frame did it's job.

That looks nasty, Jimmy. That is a pretty deep freeze.

Oh dear.

Even though the snow has stopped here, I can't even get outside to assess my SFG. The ice bombs shooting down from the trees in this hi wind right now could cause a concussion!

CC

The bok choy in the cold frame look so cozy. . .

Cold frame! Winner! I would love to build one for Fall.

I didn't have nearly that much snow, but had to cover my plants Sat night and will again tonight with the predicted freeze warning.

Saturday started off a little wet.  I was helping pick up trash at local civil war battlefields in the morning and then by noon the sun came out and it got nice and warm.  When I got home I thought, hey this would be a perfect time to pull the straw off my Stawberries so they can start getting air and sun.  A few strawberries were starting to poke through the straw anyway.
So, I'm just Mr. "happy camper" and pulling the straw off my strawberries and cleaning up the beds.  Right about the time I finish my wife comes out and says "you know it's supposed to drop below freezing tonight right?".  Ummmm, well, no I didn't.  I saw a call for cold further north of hear, but it didn't look like it extended down to Virginia and you couldn't tell me this earlier?  


So here's my main strawberry bed all cleaned off.  I thought it was looking pretty good.


I even got a close up picture of one of the strawberry plants, isn't it cute.


After my wife informed me of the weather, I threw up my plastic over the bed to hopefully protect them.

Fortunately we didn't snow and as much a freeze as Jimmy in Indianan, but it did drop below freezing over night and got REAL windy.  Anyway, just thought I'd share here.  
One of the nice things about square foot gardening I think is the small framed up areas make adapting frames and covers easier.  I was able to throw that plastic over my cage frame in 15 minutes, fairly quick and easy protection.... even though the need for the protection was my fault to begin with, should have just left the straw in place for another week or so until my early last frost date of mid April.  Anyway, I think it'll be o.k.

Every plant survived this freeze, hard to believe but they look so much better than before...I never covered them...unbelievable.. I'll try some pics tomorrow

So happy for you, Jimmi.

Here's a question for all of you experienced folks dealing with cold temps.

What are the general rules of thumb regarding covering your plants when it gets cold?
Only when it gets below freezing?

Thanks in advance

I would say, when it threatens to go below freezing.

There are exceptions. e.g. brussels sprouts taste improves with a light frost as do some other veggies.

RT, I cover plants with old towels if it is supposed to get below 32*F. Shoots do better than plants. I had 23* last night.

Kohlrabi this morning at 21 degrees F...sun just up and on plants, notice ice crystals still frozen to plant.
Leaves are like leather, very cold and stiff.
Cool plants they are...

I am sure they will smarten up as the sun gets to them.  Keeping fingers crossed for you JC

I think plants go on the defensive by withdrawing their moisture so that freezing water does not break the cell walls.  Same with drought.

Hmmm, you are right, Kelejan. Plants are ancient and smart that way. I had 23* this morning, had my kid take the towels off when he went to college, it was 28 when that happened....stuff is still alive!

Not growing. But lives to see another day. Covered again tonight. Can't trust the weather guy.

Kelejan wrote:I am sure they will smarten up as the sun gets to them.  Keeping fingers crossed for you JC

I think plants go on the defensive by withdrawing their moisture so that freezing water does not break the cell walls.  Same with drought.

I'm sure you're right.  I had the same thing happen the week before last, when I had spinach, kale, onions, and carrots out.  Weather forecast missed the mark - by quite a bit - and I didn't cover the beds that night.  Everything was covered with snow the next morning, but everything survived.  In fact, most of my plants seemed to like the snow.  When the sun came out later that day, they looked better than ever.

I agree - Don't trust the weather folks! They'll steer you wrong most of the time... ;-)

Glad you're babies came thru okay!

AtlantaMarie wrote:I agree - Don't trust the weather folks!  They'll steer you wrong most of the time...  ;-)

Glad you're babies came thru okay!

Marie, you mean they really can't forecast a heatwave in 2030 that will kill 10's of thousands of people???

http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/white-house-2030-heat-wave-climate-change/2016/04/05/id/722408/

Maybe this is overkill, but I've been covering mine at 42 degrees and below.  The freezing rain that killed all of my transplants has me very leery of leaving them exposed to any unforeseen freezes.  The "mixed bag" seems to have become the granddaddy of all weather forecasts these days!

Didn't cover mine last night, but cold snap...again. So blankies are goin' on tonight!

Kathy Gizzi wrote:Maybe this is overkill, but I've been covering mine at 42 degrees and below.  The freezing rain that killed all of my transplants has me very leery of leaving them exposed to any unforeseen freezes.  The "mixed bag" seems to have become the granddaddy of all weather forecasts these days!

Kathy
You're in another climate zone, much more temperate down there. I'd do the same as you when weather chills off..All I have planted now are cool crops that can take this cold.

I typed that post and left to take my kids to school under a severe thunderstorm warning with quarter size hail!  Again.....NOT in the forecast!  Luckily, now, in beautiful Myrtle Beach, the sun is shining and it's 60 degrees (but 20 mile an hour winds).  Looks like it will be a clochey day for my little ones!

Sorry, but this is how my mind works...

Kathy Gizzi wrote:...left to take my kids to school under a severe thunderstorm warning with quarter size hail!...Looks like it will be a clochey day for my little ones!

haha! I love that, ralitaco!  Too windy here unless they come in hard plastic.

I cover when the temps are going below 27.   This year I've experimented a bit - covered with screens instead of windows, covered only half of this & that and left the other half uncovered - that kind of thing.  All plants are still happy but I have to say that the covered Marvel of the Four Seasons lettuces are a bit bigger than the uncovered ones.  

I don't have to cover again until Sat nite.

CC

I have visions of rain with a gust of wind elevating this cubicle with the lady within to scare to let it go.