How cold is too cold?

b54red · November 27, 2009

It is predicted to get down to 35 F. tonight and 32 F. tomorrow night with light winds of 5 to 10 mph,then warm up into the 40's after that. I have 20 tomato plants with decent size green fruit on them and no way to cover. If I can make it through tonight and tomorrow night I think I can make a good number of good toms before the next cold spell hits.
Are there any tricks to help get these plants through without severe damage? Or should I just cross my fingers and hope for the best? Most of the fruit is probably a week or two from being big enough to pick and have decent green tomatoes.

Blueaussi · November 27, 2009

Go to the store and get a 10 X 20 heavy plastic drop cloth to cover your plants. You can also put some lights under the plastic if you're careful not to let them touch the plastic.

You can also use old sheets and blankets, but double the sheets. I've had a heavy frost freeze the leaves where they touched the single layered sheet.

Or, you can cover each plant with a plastic garbage bag, it's more work, but doable with 20 plants.

Wi-sunflower · November 27, 2009

Something that I have done is to use sprinklers.

If you have enough hose to get to your garden, use some of those impact sprinklers with the little stake and the "pass-thru". To get them up high enough to get around the garden we tape them to a thin post or re-bar up about 3 ft. Depending on your pressure I will run 1 sprinkler and 1 on the pass-thru off each hose.

You need to turn them on about when the temp drops to 35*. Definately before it hits 32*. Run them until the ice melts off the plants in the morning.

I know it sounds funny. Ice on the plants. But it really does work. I've done it many times.

The only problem is if you are already too wet.

You only need about 0.1 inch / hour, so the smallest amount you can do works. I've used some of the micro sprinklers at times, but they are harder to find and set-up. That's why I usually just go with the impack sprinklers.

Carol

TomatoDon · December 2, 2009

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=295

This link is one of the all time classic threads here on Tomatoville. It is about cold weather and some rather unique reported way to grow in cold weather. This post, think, was during the first month or two of Tomatoville. It's right up there with the Terry Light thread about size.

November 27, 2009	#1
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	How cold is too cold? It is predicted to get down to 35 F. tonight and 32 F. tomorrow night with light winds of 5 to 10 mph,then warm up into the 40's after that. I have 20 tomato plants with decent size green fruit on them and no way to cover. If I can make it through tonight and tomorrow night I think I can make a good number of good toms before the next cold spell hits. Are there any tricks to help get these plants through without severe damage? Or should I just cross my fingers and hope for the best? Most of the fruit is probably a week or two from being big enough to pick and have decent green tomatoes.

December 2, 2009	#4
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=295 This link is one of the all time classic threads here on Tomatoville. It is about cold weather and some rather unique reported way to grow in cold weather. This post, think, was during the first month or two of Tomatoville. It's right up there with the Terry Light thread about size. __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

November 27, 2009	#2
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	Go to the store and get a 10 X 20 heavy plastic drop cloth to cover your plants. You can also put some lights under the plastic if you're careful not to let them touch the plastic. You can also use old sheets and blankets, but double the sheets. I've had a heavy frost freeze the leaves where they touched the single layered sheet. Or, you can cover each plant with a plastic garbage bag, it's more work, but doable with 20 plants.

November 27, 2009	#3
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Something that I have done is to use sprinklers. If you have enough hose to get to your garden, use some of those impact sprinklers with the little stake and the "pass-thru". To get them up high enough to get around the garden we tape them to a thin post or re-bar up about 3 ft. Depending on your pressure I will run 1 sprinkler and 1 on the pass-thru off each hose. You need to turn them on about when the temp drops to 35. Definately before it hits 32. Run them until the ice melts off the plants in the morning. I know it sounds funny. Ice on the plants. But it really does work. I've done it many times. The only problem is if you are already too wet. You only need about 0.1 inch / hour, so the smallest amount you can do works. I've used some of the micro sprinklers at times, but they are harder to find and set-up. That's why I usually just go with the impack sprinklers. Carol