Cold Spell Left Some Toasty Plants

[GoDawgs]

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

I routinely have light freezes affect my broccoli, peas, onions, spinach, etc. all cool season stuff and never have any damage from temperatures you mention (38-32F). Is there any possibility it is herbicide drift damage?

What I mentioned was 30-33. It was 30 two nights and then 33 the third night. And yes, I too have had cool season stuff laugh at those temps too. But we had that 10 day stretch of very warm (mid 70's-low 80's) and I'm pretty sure now the plants had, what we used to call at the nursery, "gotten juicy". I worked for that production nursery for 18 years and I've seen the same thing happen to shrubs under similar circumstances.

The brassica plantings were staggered. Broccoli went out in sets of three on 2/12, 2/24, and 3/11. Cabbages went out 2/24 and 3/11. Seems that it was that last planting that suffered the most damage.

Zero chance of herbicide drift.

While weed-eating between the beds this afternoon I noticed that the crape myrtles along the fence were covered in crispy brown baby leaves. They're tough and will be back. The wisteria in the surrounding area, so beautiful and in full bloom a few days ago, is now done. That's the way it goes some years.

What I need to do is set the spring brassicas out earlier, like maybe in January under plastic tunnels so that the last planting doesn't go out so late. Or still plant some late and just cover everything at the slightest hint of frost. I should have done that in the first place. Need to get a handle on that staggered planting because I sure don't want 12 heads of broccoli ready at once. Been there, done that!