The Louisiana Project (again)

CLa · April 14, 2008

We are researching yet another new tomato virus this year called the unexpected freeze.

Sherry_AK · April 14, 2008

Crazy weather we're having, isn't it? Looks like you've got them safely tucked in.

That looks like a very serious fence there. Do your tomatoes try to escape???

Sherry

CLa · April 15, 2008

Ohh yeah, especially ones like sungold;D The real reason they are next to the fence is it is convenient and out of the way. The yard is kind of reserved for other things. What you see covered is round steel wire cages. I don't do flowers by the way, so you could say this helps to make the yard look a little more pleasant. My place here is not really a show the friends kind of yard though

TomatoDon · April 15, 2008

Is that really razor wire?

Don

rzr · April 15, 2008

Yes it is wire. The place used to be a country gas station/small grocery store and thats the back yard. It probably served to keep coyotes and robbers out.

rzr · April 15, 2008

oh, and to keep Cla's T-rex from escaping.

TomatoDon · April 15, 2008

I guess CLa has the safest tomatoes in the world then.

D

CLa · April 15, 2008

If only, as long as the critters and bugs stay out I'm good. There was some frost on the ground by the way, glad I covered them!

Suze · April 15, 2008

We had a couple of close calls here in my general area as well. Mostly South Central/Central Texas and above (further north in the state).

At 6:30 am on 4/14, it was 34F at raised bed level in my garden, and that is what I go by since that is the temp the plants actually have to endure. This was a record low temp for my area for the particular date. 34F was *not* what the forecast had indicated.

To make it even worse, it was dead calm with no rain.

I figured it might play out that way, so I set my alarm clock for 4 am and did what I usually do when this happens -- got out there and periodically misted the plants to keep the foliage wet until the sun rose. This will keep frost from forming on the leaves, IME. Have saved plants before at 29F by doing this.

Had to do it again last night/morning too. Temp got down to 36F and I did not want to take any chances, since frost can form at above freezing temps. Plants look okay today, might slow them down for a few days, but otherwise I think they will be fine.

bryanccfshr · April 16, 2008

It got down to 41.6 that evening for me.

I guess I lucked out because I wasn't paying attention to the weather.

April 15, 2008	#4
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Is that really razor wire? Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

April 15, 2008	#7
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I guess CLa has the safest tomatoes in the world then. D __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

April 16, 2008	#10
bryanccfshr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Farmington, Nm Posts: 450	It got down to 41.6 that evening for me. I guess I lucked out because I wasn't paying attention to the weather. __________________ I moved!

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April 14, 2008	#2
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	Crazy weather we're having, isn't it? Looks like you've got them safely tucked in. That looks like a very serious fence there. Do your tomatoes try to escape??? Sherry

April 15, 2008	#3
CLa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Central Louisiana. Zone: 8 Posts: 207	Ohh yeah, especially ones like sungold;D The real reason they are next to the fence is it is convenient and out of the way. The yard is kind of reserved for other things. What you see covered is round steel wire cages. I don't do flowers by the way, so you could say this helps to make the yard look a little more pleasant. My place here is not really a show the friends kind of yard though

April 15, 2008	#5
rzr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 79	Yes it is wire. The place used to be a country gas station/small grocery store and thats the back yard. It probably served to keep coyotes and robbers out.

April 15, 2008	#9
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	We had a couple of close calls here in my general area as well. Mostly South Central/Central Texas and above (further north in the state). At 6:30 am on 4/14, it was 34F at raised bed level in my garden, and that is what I go by since that is the temp the plants actually have to endure. This was a record low temp for my area for the particular date. 34F was not what the forecast had indicated. To make it even worse, it was dead calm with no rain. I figured it might play out that way, so I set my alarm clock for 4 am and did what I usually do when this happens -- got out there and periodically misted the plants to keep the foliage wet until the sun rose. This will keep frost from forming on the leaves, IME. Have saved plants before at 29F by doing this. Had to do it again last night/morning too. Temp got down to 36F and I did not want to take any chances, since frost can form at above freezing temps. Plants look okay today, might slow them down for a few days, but otherwise I think they will be fine.