Freezing temps in Texas

[Cyn]

Hi all - we had 29 degrees last night - it actually wasn't supposed to get below freezing until tonight - so my last tomatoes got zapped. They all went in some soup tonight - so they were not lost.

This was a rough year tomato-wise. the plants had so much damage from the raccoon & deer party that they never really got on their feet before the summer heat - and it was hot.

I did get a very nice late crop of Rutgers, nice tomato. Also, I picked an early wonder today (nov 30) that somehow escaped last night's freeze - so I'll eat it in a day or so.

Some of you know that I have been working full-time at a non-profit agency job and having my private practice on the side. Yesterday was my last day in agency work - I am now fully self-employed.

It is a huge accomplishment - my practice is strong, I have learned gobs about marketing, and now I can work 40-50 hours per week instead of 80-90 hours. and you know what that means...

More time to think about next year's tomatoes.

sweet tomato dreams all
Cyn

[greggf]

Congratulations on your newfound freedom and flexibility!

Now you can investigate tomato OCD/OCPD as an insider! 8)

=gregg=

[carolyn137]

It is a huge accomplishment - my practice is strong, I have learned gobs about marketing, and now I can work 40-50 hours per week instead of 80-90 hours. and you know what that means...

More time to think about next year's tomatoes.


For sure, but a heck of a lot more time to do lots of others things as well.

I'm so happy for you Cyn. To the good gals come good things.

Carolyn, wondering if she still would get free consulting services.

[Cyn]

[Now you can investigate tomato OCD/OCPD as an insider! 8)

=gregg=[/quote]

Gregg, this made me laugh out loud.

I think we could make it TOCPD (for tomato obsessive compulsive personality disorder)

wonder where I could go to get certified as a TOCPD specialist?

Cyn

[Cyn]

Carolyn,
thanks for the good words. It feels like such a milestone. and yes, I am going to do some other things - read, cook, actually weed the gardens, play with the dogs and cats - yesterday I took a nap - it is all pretty fine.

I sent you a pm via tomatoville - and the answer is yes.

Cyn

[feldon30]

WUnderground.com was fairly accurate for me last night. I predicted 33 and it was 30 when I got up this morning. It's important to look at hour-by-hour forecasts or find out what your local TV station means when they announce High/Low. I used to think High/Low was the highest and coldest temperature between midnight and midnight. But some forecasts mean 6am to 6am.

In light of the predictions, I moved my citrus into the garage and built these for the tomatoes:



I needed to build the frameworks to keep my cages under control. I am going to switch entirely to C-shaped cages which I believe was bully's solution, and I need something to attach them to. Once the frames were built, the tarp was reasonably easy.

I don't know if the temporary greenhouses will succeed as it is expected to be mid-30's each night for the next 4-5 days. I've lived in Houston for 10 years and I don't recall it being this cold for this long.

[landarc]

Hey Cyn,
Congrats and welcome ot the self-employed club. There is something beyond the flexibility in terms of time that makes being your own boss pretty satisfying. But, being able to take a nice summer day to totter around the garden and not do paperwork unitl after dark is had to ignore as a great benefit.

[creister]

Feldon, those should work fine. You would have to go back about 15 - 20 years in Houston to find that much cold for so long. The interesting thing is how early this storm hit. Still in November, and we miss a day of school due to winter weather. Maybe we will have a normal year. Cyn, hill country is a great place to live with all kinds of neat things to do. You aren't to far from Austin or San Antonio, or my favorite place, Fredericksburg. The food and brew there is outstanding. Did ya'll get any precip with the cold weather?

[feldon30]

It was sprinkly yesterday as the temp dropped from 75 to 45 in 1 hour.

I just checked under the tarps.

Every last tomato plant is dead.

Well, my significant other did suggest I do all the framing in and put the tarps up Wednesday night but I thought I could get it done yesterday morning. By the time the tarps were installed (6pm) the outside temp was already 36, so it probably didn't take long for the inside temp to fall.

One of these days I will learn to listen to my better half.

[dcarch]

Originally Posted by Cyn

------I think we could make it TOCPD (for tomato obsessive compulsive personality disorder)

wonder where I could go to get certified as a TOCPD specialist? Cyn

dcarch

[landarc]

Now there is something DC that I think we need to see, Tomatoville OCPD degrees.

[Ruth_10]

Looks like everyone in the midwest got hit by that weather system. We went from 74 F to 25 F in under 24 hours and with it first rain, then ice, then snow. Mostly frozen sleet, many inches of it. The precipitation might actually help protect some carrots, brussel sprouts, cabbage and such still in the garden, though I will need an ice axe to get at them anytime soon.

The TOCD acronym needs another vowel to make it pronouneable. How about OCDOTO--obsessive compulsive disease of tomatoes though maybe that makes it sound like the tomatoes have the disease. OCDOTOG--obessive compulsive disease of tomato growers, how about that? Stop me before this gets out of hand.

[landarc]

really Ruth, tomatoes have enough diseases, don't go creating new ones.

[Cyn]

I love the diploma - I feel so honored that you took the time to create this- you all are so clever!
Cyn

[Deer Park]

As many of you know I live in Pasadena, Texas just east of Houston and south of I-10.

We escaped the cold! Tomatoes and beans are fine.

Last Sat. wife and I canned 2 bushels of snap beans and made a big pot of Chile with a basket of tomatoes.

Soon it will be time to start seeds. I usually start seeds day after Christmas.

Keep your fingers crossed and more cold is forecasted.

Michael