Frost Panic attack...update photo post 10

[lesa]

mothergoose, I would definitely leave them inside. It won't hurt them for one day. If we were talking about one or two plants, it would be one thing-but that is way too many to keep moving around!!! Waiting for spring, while the weather man calls for snow showers, for another week!!!!

 

[ducks4you]

moothergoose, remember my post
http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=28264&p=1
YOUR last average frost date is April 28th. For tomatoes and other warm weather crops add 2 WEEKS on to that, just to be sure. That's what the experts say. Whew--glad that your plants didn't bite the dust!!

 

[mothergoose]

In and out...in and out... that has been what I have been doing for the past 4 days. I guess on the up side, my plants are all doing great and I am getting plenty of exercise!!!

Christie :weight

 

[aaron28]

You are very dedicated to your plants. I did exactly the same thing this year. I pulled some of my plants into my basement because of the weather. It has been pretty weird cold this year and I let my guard down when the weather got up to 90. Literally, the next day we had a flash-freeze. If you're not keeping them out of the cold then you're watering them to death when its baking outside. lol

 

[Grow 4 Food]

If you have room, here is a quick fix that will heat a 12x18 (mine) for a cold night that is scareing you.

Get a metal coffee can in the 1lb size. Tear off any labels (dont disguard the lid). Get a full roll of toilet paper (thicker plusher is better). Pull out the cardboard roll in the center without doing anymore damage than you have to for the roll. This will allow you to collapse the roll in the center to make it a U shape. This will also allow you to slide it in the coffee can. It should just barely fit. You should have the layer end of the TP facing up.

Now you need a pint bottle of rubbing alcohol. Pour the entire bottle into the coffee can (it will fit). Put the lid back on and set aside for about 30 min. This will allow the TP to soak up all the alcohol. Make a spot in the greenhouse (I set mine on the floor (gravel)).

Make sure it is far enough away from plants and plastic. Now you need a candle lighter or a long wood match. Light the top of the TP but dont throw a match in or it will smoke. Hold your hand high above (close to the plastic) to make sure things arent getting to hot. I will check mine 2-3 times in the first hour to make sure all is well.

There is no smoke and only a little blue flame. You wont find anything that burns cleaner than the pure alcohol so you are not hurting the plants. If it gets to warm simply blow it out, let the can cool, and replace the lid (stops evaporation). Carefull to not let the alcohol burn completely out or it will flame and burn you TP too - also smokes a lot when that happens.

This also works very well for you hunters that sit in a blind as there is no smell involved either. It keeps me and which ever kid i take warm enough to stay and hunt when it is 15 degrees outside.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

Mothergoose, I am about a day behind your weather and I was doing that earlier in the Season. My whole kitchen table was covered on day, then wait until 9:00 am and move everthing back out. But the other night I decide to chance it, I have a portable type of covered greenhouse (4 shelves on wheels w/ cover). One night I added an extra cover that ended up on the ground because it was so windy. Anyway over the weekend when the warning was issued, I just zipped it shut and prayed for the best. Everything was fine. I check the temp. and it was 28 outside and my plants were fine.

Repotting tomatoes today and my greenhouse is stuffed as full as I can get it. Unless it is calling for the next ice age (which is a possibility) I am leaving them out until they go into the ground.

 

[mothergoose]

I have moved most of them back out into the greenhouse, it is suposed to be in the low 40's tonight and in the mid 30's tomorrow night.
I have some plants that are just starting the hardening off , so they are still coming in at night and I have a couple varieties of tomatoes that just seem more tender than some of the other varieties. All the tomatoes I have are heritage varieties.
The 2 varieties that seem to be the most tender are the black krim and soldacki. Has anyone else raised these? The soldacki seems the most sensitive. So I will keep moving them in and out for at least a few more nights.
Suposed to be in the 40's and 50's at night after Wed. at least for a little while, should get a break from my plant workout!!!

Christie

 

[ducks4you]

mothergoose, leave them in a warm place until about Mother's Day--it's supposed to be hot again mid-May, just like the Farmer's Almanac predicted (correctly) for mid-April. I had tomato plants in the GROUND last year in April. YES, I had tomatoes on the 4th of July, but they never really grew until it got consistantly warm. It's been cool since our "mini heat wave". They'll appreciate a warm spot inside your greenhouse. Hope this helps.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

You are very dedicated to your plants. I did exactly the same thing this year. I pulled some of my plants into my basement because of the weather. It has been pretty weird cold this year and I let my guard down when the weather got up to 90. Literally, the next day we had a flash-freeze. If you're not keeping them out of the cold then you're watering them to death when its baking outside. lol

WOW, we have that kind of weather here. Are you somewhere near the Ohio Valley?

 

[mothergoose]

We are an hour straight south of Chicago. I am ready for steady warm weather for sure. Now I have rain for the next four days.
Thanks everyone for the tips and advice too,
Christie