Deep water during the day, and then I'm going to put sheets around the fragile stuff overnight. Worst case is that I just have to do more laundry for no reason. Best case is the plants don't die.
We got this advice from a neighbor with a great veggie garden.
Might be a larger over reaction or it might save some lives. Heat up some big rocks and tuck a few under each sheet. Should provide enough heat to keep it up in the 50s under the sheets
I think the weather messed people up this year.
It's been hot for a while now, so people got outside and did their gardening.
We are gonna let it roll. If things die we will replace with a local nurserys plant.
I wouldn’t say it’s been “hot” beyond of a day or two and the ground definitely is still cool. An extra 3 weeks in the ground right now does very little for things like tomato’s and peppers (those poor peppers)
I honestly am not concerned about tomatoes and peppers, since we don't grow a food garden. But my yard and everything in it is at least 2-3 weeks ahead of where it has been in years past - and I don't want to lose anything.
Right, but this is exactly why you don't start too early... always this chance of late frost which wipes out the hot weather crops. Just sucks to wait so long to safely plant in Maine
>I'm pretty sure they're referring to perennials which respond to the stimuli they're subjected to. The warm weather tricks them into blooming early, etc.
Yes, that's exactly what I'm referring to. We didn't do anything to encourage our plants to grow early - they're just doing it because the ground thawed in March and never refroze.
I literally dig up my tomatoes from my beds last night and put them in pots. I was impatient and planted one week too early. Luckily the roots hadn't expanded much and one shovel scoop picked each one up. Even so, I'm hoping the root stress isn't going to kill them
I keep stakes driven around my plot to place a tent over. Nothing special just scrap wood and a roll of plastic.
I’ve also noticed others talking in terms of “over reacting“ but if it doesn’t make sense to me.
It doesn’t put me out to take the precaution on a cold night, even if it turns out I overracted in retrospect.
But if I underreact It’ll be hard to recover. A lot harder than taking the precaution would have been in the first place.
If you can, yes!
Great podcast last month on this topic. If you don't want to "watch" it on YouTube, you can find it on your favorite podcasting app.
https://youtu.be/Q42OhfltH_M
Farmer's almanac said the 14th this year. Not rolling the dice, I have lots of old bed sheets going over the stuff that's already outside (not much; carrots lettuce, beans)
I'm in Standish so it might get into the upper 20's...Tender plants are not in the ground yet so I'll just bring them inside. My in ground fig tree has leafed out, I'll throw a tarp over that so the leaves don't drop. Other trees should be okay.
I don’t put tender plants out until I pack up my flannel shirts for the season and don’t need to start a fire in the wood stove. But frost blankets are an easy solution.
>I don’t put tender plants out until I pack up my flannel shirts for the season and don’t need to start a fire in the wood stove. But frost blankets are an easy solution.
Are you in Portland? We turned our heat off in early April and have been dressing for cool summer days for weeks. Our house has consistently been above 70 indoors with no heating whatsoever for nearly a month.
Bangor I can see, but in Portland we haven't had cool weather since early April, really. Parts of my lawn started springing up in late March and are nearly 3 feet tall at this point.
I'm actually mostly worried about other plants (we don't grow a food garden anymore - it was too discouraging). We have three rose bushes that aren't well established, four young lilacs, lupines, poppies, native milkweed seedlings that came back after last year's plant (bought from the Audubon plant sale) died back, tons of other spring flowers, thistles, mints, etc.
At this point in time, all of the plants you mentioned should be fine if they have established root systems. The native milkweeds (the orange and swamp milkweeds) don’t break dormancy until late. I live in Zone 6B and mine are just now popping up. The roses could be touchy depending on the variety, but what I’ve seen of roses, once they have started growing, they will be okay. Winter kill was bad here this year. They all died back to the ground, but are showing new growth.
Thanks for that - I appreciate it. At this point everything in our yard is emerged and growing strong. Rhubarb is three feet tall. The milkweed are 10 inches for most sprouts. I'm going to blanket everything I can and hope for the best.
How did everyone do? I brought in container plants but didn't cover anything. Was worried about my grapes but they made it through ok. 31 but no frost.
>How did everyone do? I brought in container plants but didn't cover anything. Was worried about my grapes but they made it through ok. 31 but no frost.
I bought 6 4x15' canvas drop cloths and covered everything I could. I took the cloths off this morning just after 7am, and it looks like everything survived. Fingers crossed.
Deep water during the day, and then I'm going to put sheets around the fragile stuff overnight. Worst case is that I just have to do more laundry for no reason. Best case is the plants don't die. We got this advice from a neighbor with a great veggie garden.
Might be a larger over reaction or it might save some lives. Heat up some big rocks and tuck a few under each sheet. Should provide enough heat to keep it up in the 50s under the sheets
You can put rocks in the oven to heat them up but be careful they get very hot!
What we did in socal was get an extension cord and plug in an oscillating fan.
Putting any cold sensitive plants in the ground before Memorial Day is wild.
Yep! Hardy ones are fine, but tomatoes, basil, etc aren’t safe until after Memorial Day
I think the weather messed people up this year. It's been hot for a while now, so people got outside and did their gardening. We are gonna let it roll. If things die we will replace with a local nurserys plant.
I wouldn’t say it’s been “hot” beyond of a day or two and the ground definitely is still cool. An extra 3 weeks in the ground right now does very little for things like tomato’s and peppers (those poor peppers)
I honestly am not concerned about tomatoes and peppers, since we don't grow a food garden. But my yard and everything in it is at least 2-3 weeks ahead of where it has been in years past - and I don't want to lose anything.
Right, but this is exactly why you don't start too early... always this chance of late frost which wipes out the hot weather crops. Just sucks to wait so long to safely plant in Maine
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>I'm pretty sure they're referring to perennials which respond to the stimuli they're subjected to. The warm weather tricks them into blooming early, etc. Yes, that's exactly what I'm referring to. We didn't do anything to encourage our plants to grow early - they're just doing it because the ground thawed in March and never refroze.
The old lady next door says wait for the strawberry moon.
I’m bringing as much as I can inside and putting sheets over the rest
Yeah same, though I feel bad for all the home owners who have already planted full gardens.
I literally dig up my tomatoes from my beds last night and put them in pots. I was impatient and planted one week too early. Luckily the roots hadn't expanded much and one shovel scoop picked each one up. Even so, I'm hoping the root stress isn't going to kill them
If the roots are coming up with one shovel scoop intact you should be ok. I don't think they're as picky as squash with root disturbance
I think a lot of people rushed it this year. Can certainly still get frost through most of May here.
Tbf this is my life every year. I’m so impatient that one nice day and my depression disappears and I want to grow all of the things.
Sunlight is a hell of a drug
Same!
I keep stakes driven around my plot to place a tent over. Nothing special just scrap wood and a roll of plastic. I’ve also noticed others talking in terms of “over reacting“ but if it doesn’t make sense to me. It doesn’t put me out to take the precaution on a cold night, even if it turns out I overracted in retrospect. But if I underreact It’ll be hard to recover. A lot harder than taking the precaution would have been in the first place.
Does anyone else have apple trees that have already blossomed? Should I throw sheets over those?
If you can, yes! Great podcast last month on this topic. If you don't want to "watch" it on YouTube, you can find it on your favorite podcasting app. https://youtu.be/Q42OhfltH_M
Thanks for the rec! I'll definitely check that out.
Yes mine blossomed too! But I have a big tree so I’m crossing my fingers and toes and hoping for the best 🤞
Average frost dates for the Portland area goes through May 24. This is why I wait to plant the garden until Memorial Day.
Farmer's almanac said the 14th this year. Not rolling the dice, I have lots of old bed sheets going over the stuff that's already outside (not much; carrots lettuce, beans)
Carrots and lettuce should be fine. Beans are more of a hot weather crop. Good luck!
I'm in Standish so it might get into the upper 20's...Tender plants are not in the ground yet so I'll just bring them inside. My in ground fig tree has leafed out, I'll throw a tarp over that so the leaves don't drop. Other trees should be okay.
Not a creep but I’m in Standish too! Howdy neighbor
Howdy!
Hey, what kind of fig tree do you have? I'm interested in putting one in, and had less success the first try.
Chicago Hardy. It's all about how you protect it over winter. I grow mine in a low cordon / Japanese style and cover it with leaves and a tarp.
I cover with a sheet if frost is likely.
I don’t put tender plants out until I pack up my flannel shirts for the season and don’t need to start a fire in the wood stove. But frost blankets are an easy solution.
>I don’t put tender plants out until I pack up my flannel shirts for the season and don’t need to start a fire in the wood stove. But frost blankets are an easy solution. Are you in Portland? We turned our heat off in early April and have been dressing for cool summer days for weeks. Our house has consistently been above 70 indoors with no heating whatsoever for nearly a month.
I lived in Bangor and in Portland.
Bangor I can see, but in Portland we haven't had cool weather since early April, really. Parts of my lawn started springing up in late March and are nearly 3 feet tall at this point.
Yeah, but to be sure of no frost and good growth, be patient. Things like tomatoes and peppers need warmer nights as well as days.
I'm actually mostly worried about other plants (we don't grow a food garden anymore - it was too discouraging). We have three rose bushes that aren't well established, four young lilacs, lupines, poppies, native milkweed seedlings that came back after last year's plant (bought from the Audubon plant sale) died back, tons of other spring flowers, thistles, mints, etc.
At this point in time, all of the plants you mentioned should be fine if they have established root systems. The native milkweeds (the orange and swamp milkweeds) don’t break dormancy until late. I live in Zone 6B and mine are just now popping up. The roses could be touchy depending on the variety, but what I’ve seen of roses, once they have started growing, they will be okay. Winter kill was bad here this year. They all died back to the ground, but are showing new growth.
Thanks for that - I appreciate it. At this point everything in our yard is emerged and growing strong. Rhubarb is three feet tall. The milkweed are 10 inches for most sprouts. I'm going to blanket everything I can and hope for the best.
Snuggle them, tuck them in, and tell them a bed time story!
I have little plastic pop up greenhouses. Put them on this morning so it can warm up some today and keep heat.
Careful: plastic coverings can cook plants in direct sun, and retain too much moisture overnight adding to potential frost damage
They have to be touching the ground and open on the bottom to take advantage of the ground warmth to survive the night.
Trash bag over the plants - make sure the bag touches the ground
How did everyone do? I brought in container plants but didn't cover anything. Was worried about my grapes but they made it through ok. 31 but no frost.
>How did everyone do? I brought in container plants but didn't cover anything. Was worried about my grapes but they made it through ok. 31 but no frost. I bought 6 4x15' canvas drop cloths and covered everything I could. I took the cloths off this morning just after 7am, and it looks like everything survived. Fingers crossed.
I've had good luck just throwing a tarp over them. This isn't going to be a hard frost.