Freeze tonight?

hank · May 13, 2015

Not wishing to worry alone, I'm concerned about the 40F predicted for Markham, Va. Our experience with a 40F prediction is sometimes disastrous. I would have to cover about an acre. I am right on the edge. Should I run out and gather help and covering material, or mix a martini hoping I don't have to replant? Should I first check out the status of the cabinet? Taking the time to write this made me realize that I have already made the decision. Cheers. Hank

Labradors2 · May 13, 2015

Good luck to you Hank!

I'm glad my tommies are still in pots and are all sitting inside for the evening....

Linda

akaRach · May 13, 2015

Good luck!! I also have delayed putting out my tomatoes, as I have 150 or so and no way to cover them all. Of course it's not really a delay, our plant out isn't until end of may. So I guess I should say I'm glad i wasn't tempted into planting early!! I see another very low dip in temps in a week coming at us. My fingers are crossed for you that it goes ok!

bughunter99 · May 13, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by hank

Not wishing to worry alone, I'm concerned about the 40F predicted for Markham, Va. Our experience with a 40F prediction is sometimes disastrous. I would have to cover about an acre. I am right on the edge. Should I run out and gather help and covering material, or mix a martini hoping I don't have to replant? Should I first check out the status of the cabinet? Taking the time to write this made me realize that I have already made the decision. Cheers. Hank

Hank, go out and look up. If the sky is clear with few or any clouds, seriously consider going out and throwing some protection over the most precious. Clear nights are bad news when you are on the fence.

Stvrob · May 13, 2015

You could go out real early and if frost is threatening, make several very smoky smoldering fires. Not roaring fires for heat, rather smoldering fires for smoke. Wet leaves, used motor oil, whatever it takes. If its typical frost, it will be dead still air and the temps will be inverted, good conditions for heavy smoke to hug the ground and prevent IR from radiating out toward space. You could even bring a lawn chair and a thermos of Martinis with you.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

hank · May 13, 2015

Thank you for replies. Linda, just wondering, when do you hope to start getting something to eat in your area? To AKA, you Ontario people may have a more serious climate issue than I. When the Southerners talk about problems with setting fruit I have jealousy. To Bug, Ah clear sky, no breeze. Clear sky, no breeze. That is exactly the problem. Temperatures can drop dramatically. Gosh, my worry level just increased. To Sky the effort with the party aspect is still a possibility, err, Wifey says not. So, I have decided that frost will not be an issue for tonight. Hank

RayR · May 13, 2015

Tonight is going to be cold and clear, low of 36°. The last of the cold nights according to the long range forecast here. My plants have been outside for a week and a half since we had some warm weather. I just brought them all in to the garage for the night. Start planting out this weekend!

hank · May 13, 2015

RayR, I'm counting on warmth tomorrow and forever. I came back from an early March thingy in upstate NY where it snowed every day for a week and was above freezing only briefly. You guys understand. Hank

Gardeneer · May 13, 2015

I don't think that they could be that far off in 24 hour prediction.
Often those predictions are exagerated, meaning coming up with lower numbers.

OTOH, tomatoes can tolerate temps down to 32F for a short time.
But You have to take EVERY measure possible to cover/PROTECT your plants, STRAW, LEAVES, BED SHETS, BLANKETS, PLASTIC, BUCKET, CARDBOARD BOXES, ROW COVERS.... ONE PLANT AT A TIME .

hank · May 13, 2015

There is the energy factor (mine) and the question of being able to replant verses the chance of losing the present planting. It is an ongoing debate with myself. Covering an acre now is possibly more effort than replanting. That is what I'm telling myself. The well wishes will help. Hank

Stvrob · May 13, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by hank

There is the energy factor (mine) and the question of being able to replant verses the chance of losing the present planting. It is an ongoing debate with myself. Covering an acre now is possibly more effort than replanting. That is what I'm telling myself. The well wishes will help. Hank

You will be fine. I just know it!

JamesL · May 13, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by hank

...or mix a martini hoping I don't have to replant?

So how is that martini tasting? Did you go with vodka and dirty or bathtub gin?

Good luck tonight.

PA_Julia · May 13, 2015

We are also dropping down to 40 F overnight. All my plants are in the ground. I've gone 35 F overnight with my plants uncovered before with no issues, 40 F will be just fine.

Salsacharley · May 13, 2015

Even if you get a frost you might have survivors if it doesn't get too much lower that the dew point. I had 103 plants in the ground for a month, thinking I escaped to my last average frost date. 2 days later (Apr 17) there was a freeze. 46 of the 103 plants had varying degrees of frost damage in a completely random inexplicable order. As of today all of the 46 have recovered except 10 which I replaced. There are a couple more still very poor but I am holding out hope for, but I might have to replace. So, good luck with an acre at risk. Just think how fun it will be when they make it through!

PA_Julia · May 13, 2015

Also may I turn your attention to this past thread;
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=14309

May 13, 2015	#1
hank Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: winchester va usa Posts: 106	Freeze tonight? Not wishing to worry alone, I'm concerned about the 40F predicted for Markham, Va. Our experience with a 40F prediction is sometimes disastrous. I would have to cover about an acre. I am right on the edge. Should I run out and gather help and covering material, or mix a martini hoping I don't have to replant? Should I first check out the status of the cabinet? Taking the time to write this made me realize that I have already made the decision. Cheers. Hank

May 13, 2015	#5
Stvrob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,413	You could go out real early and if frost is threatening, make several very smoky smoldering fires. Not roaring fires for heat, rather smoldering fires for smoke. Wet leaves, used motor oil, whatever it takes. If its typical frost, it will be dead still air and the temps will be inverted, good conditions for heavy smoke to hug the ground and prevent IR from radiating out toward space. You could even bring a lawn chair and a thermos of Martinis with you. Whatever you decide, good luck. Last edited by Stvrob; May 13, 2015 at 08:34 PM.

May 13, 2015	#13
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	We are also dropping down to 40 F overnight. All my plants are in the ground. I've gone 35 F overnight with my plants uncovered before with no issues, 40 F will be just fine. __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

May 13, 2015	#15
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	Also may I turn your attention to this past thread; http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=14309 __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

May 13, 2015	#2
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	Good luck to you Hank! I'm glad my tommies are still in pots and are all sitting inside for the evening.... Linda

May 13, 2015	#3
akaRach Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: South Ontario: Plant out date - May long weekend Posts: 32	Good luck!! I also have delayed putting out my tomatoes, as I have 150 or so and no way to cover them all. Of course it's not really a delay, our plant out isn't until end of may. So I guess I should say I'm glad i wasn't tempted into planting early!! I see another very low dip in temps in a week coming at us. My fingers are crossed for you that it goes ok!

May 13, 2015	#7
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Tonight is going to be cold and clear, low of 36°. The last of the cold nights according to the long range forecast here. My plants have been outside for a week and a half since we had some warm weather. I just brought them all in to the garage for the night. Start planting out this weekend!

May 13, 2015	#9
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	I don't think that they could be that far off in 24 hour prediction. Often those predictions are exagerated, meaning coming up with lower numbers. OTOH, tomatoes can tolerate temps down to 32F for a short time. But You have to take EVERY measure possible to cover/PROTECT your plants, STRAW, LEAVES, BED SHETS, BLANKETS, PLASTIC, BUCKET, CARDBOARD BOXES, ROW COVERS.... ONE PLANT AT A TIME .

May 13, 2015	#14
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	Even if you get a frost you might have survivors if it doesn't get too much lower that the dew point. I had 103 plants in the ground for a month, thinking I escaped to my last average frost date. 2 days later (Apr 17) there was a freeze. 46 of the 103 plants had varying degrees of frost damage in a completely random inexplicable order. As of today all of the 46 have recovered except 10 which I replaced. There are a couple more still very poor but I am holding out hope for, but I might have to replace. So, good luck with an acre at risk. Just think how fun it will be when they make it through!