How much rain will do them in?

heirloomdaddy · March 20, 2011

Plants went out last week...some of them are pretty small.

This week's forecast is pretty much nonstop rain w/ lows at 47 degrees.

Now I know they won't be even remotely happy, but they should survive, correct? Some of you who aren't spoiled by california weather probably find this pretty ridiculous

Heritage · March 20, 2011

It depends on how small they are, and if we get any hail with this storm.

If it makes you feel better you could cover them with buckets or something that won't blow away. I think the heaviest rain is supposed to be tonight.

Yes, we are spoiled.

Steve

**nctomatoman** · March 20, 2011

Lots of rain isn't a problem as long as there is good drainage, and soil isn't getting splashed all over the foliage. The plants may look pretty unhappy if the rain is cold and if there is a lot of wind...but they should be fine.

sprtsguy76 · March 20, 2011

Craig nailed it, I've got several planted already myself and we have been getting pounded by rain and wind. We had a 10 minute insane down pour here today that was pretty darn intense. But back to the soil, if you have good drainage they will be fine. And I know mine will be fine because I only grow in fast soils. I've left them out there in the elements during this storm with water splashing all over them and they seem to be fine.

Damon

kevinrs · March 21, 2011

The problem in southern california is people aren't used to the rain at all, and so may not know if their soil is poorly drained, or may accidentally have the bed arranged so the plants end up drowning in a pool of water. They talked on the news tonight about how the LA river(a concrete lined ditch) was 22 feet above normal. For me, it's not time yet to have tomatoes out yet, I'm still seeing lows in the 30s for the next 2 weeks. So the tomatoes are still inside, the broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and peas I have out have no problem with the cold and the 0.83 inches of rain that got over the mountains to here yesterday. But downtown LA apparently got nearly 2.5 inches yesterday, and it rarely freezes that side of the mountains, so most would have seedlings in the ground.

Linda10 · March 21, 2011

The high winds, cold and rain last night didn't bother my smallest seedlings but knocked down almost all of the larger plants, especially the wispy heart tomatoes. The sun just came out, so I went out and tied them back up to stakes. We fixed the drainage problems of our clay soil back yard years ago, so that was not an issue.

March 20, 2011	#1
heirloomdaddy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Los Angeles Z10 Posts: 291	How much rain will do them in? Plants went out last week...some of them are pretty small. This week's forecast is pretty much nonstop rain w/ lows at 47 degrees. Now I know they won't be even remotely happy, but they should survive, correct? Some of you who aren't spoiled by california weather probably find this pretty ridiculous

March 20, 2011	#3
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Lots of rain isn't a problem as long as there is good drainage, and soil isn't getting splashed all over the foliage. The plants may look pretty unhappy if the rain is cold and if there is a lot of wind...but they should be fine. __________________ Craig

March 21, 2011	#6
Linda10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brush Prairie, WA Posts: 925	The high winds, cold and rain last night didn't bother my smallest seedlings but knocked down almost all of the larger plants, especially the wispy heart tomatoes. The sun just came out, so I went out and tied them back up to stakes. We fixed the drainage problems of our clay soil back yard years ago, so that was not an issue. __________________ Linda10

March 20, 2011	#2
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	It depends on how small they are, and if we get any hail with this storm. If it makes you feel better you could cover them with buckets or something that won't blow away. I think the heaviest rain is supposed to be tonight. Yes, we are spoiled. Steve

March 20, 2011	#4
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	Craig nailed it, I've got several planted already myself and we have been getting pounded by rain and wind. We had a 10 minute insane down pour here today that was pretty darn intense. But back to the soil, if you have good drainage they will be fine. And I know mine will be fine because I only grow in fast soils. I've left them out there in the elements during this storm with water splashing all over them and they seem to be fine. Damon

March 21, 2011	#5
kevinrs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Littlerock, CA Posts: 218	The problem in southern california is people aren't used to the rain at all, and so may not know if their soil is poorly drained, or may accidentally have the bed arranged so the plants end up drowning in a pool of water. They talked on the news tonight about how the LA river(a concrete lined ditch) was 22 feet above normal. For me, it's not time yet to have tomatoes out yet, I'm still seeing lows in the 30s for the next 2 weeks. So the tomatoes are still inside, the broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and peas I have out have no problem with the cold and the 0.83 inches of rain that got over the mountains to here yesterday. But downtown LA apparently got nearly 2.5 inches yesterday, and it rarely freezes that side of the mountains, so most would have seedlings in the ground.