Chilly nights ahead

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Chilly nights ahead
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Fullup

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 183
Location: Under water

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 05 6:56 pm Post subject: Chilly nights ahead

Following on from Bugs earlier thread about a chilly night, I have just looked at our local forecast at it is showing -3 to -5 for the end of the week.

Do you think my sweet peas, toms. and herbs will be okay in one of the mini plastic greenhouse things. Would putting a night light candle in it give some warmth over night (assuming it doesn't blow out) or should I drag the whole thing into the garage on an evening.

Any ideas greatly appreciated

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 05 7:14 pm Post subject:
I don't think the plastic greengouse would be much help. It keeps the frost off tender plants that may be ok in the garden but things like toms don't like the temp to go down to near freezing so will not survive. We tend to bring everything into the house. You also need to be a little careful putting the plants out the next morning, make sure it's not too cold.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 05 7:23 pm Post subject:
The sweet peas and herbs might be OK, but I would definitely not risk it if I could (that's from the people who spend nights from May to July with a kitchen full of seedlings, I hope there's never a fire or we'll be going to to the next life in the company of half a dozen All Green Bush and a similar quantity of Sweet Dumpling ).

moggins

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 942
Location: Gloucester

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 05 9:31 pm Post subject:
Where am I going to put it all?

SparklyWellies

Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 88
Location: Oxfordshire

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 8:05 am Post subject:
Snow flurries forecast for Friday

moggins

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 942
Location: Gloucester

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 8:54 am Post subject:
There's not a lot I can do I have no room in the lean to until the shed arrives. Guess I will be losing a fair bit

Fullup

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 183
Location: Under water

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 11:23 am Post subject:

Thanks for the advice.

I brought the whole mini greenhouse thing into the kitchen last night. Was doing okay until I lifted it over the step and the bloomin thing started falling apart

Might try and clear some space in the garage tonight, I think we have an old electric heater with a frost guard seeting which might help a bit. I've put the Toms on the kitchen window sill so they should be okay.

Depending which forcast you look at it's between 3c and -1c for the next couple of nights.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 11:33 am Post subject:

Could you not just wrap it up snugly in some fleece? Sweet peas will be fine - they're tough as old boots, and perennial herbs will take a light frosting. It is direct sunlight on the plants before they have fully thawed out that does most of the damage.

Many plants are a lot tougher than we give them credit for. I would only worry about the "don't plant out until June" stuff - that will turn into a brown mush if the frost gets to it.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 11:56 am Post subject:

What about piling up e.g. polystyrene, hay or barcken, suitable restrained, around the 'greenhouse'? I know these all work for protecting the growing tips of bananas & tree ferns, so if you can get hold of any it's worth a try. Obviously, if you can construct something that just lifts on and off it'll save a lot of time. Ooohhh...bubble wrap has just sprung to mind and could be left on for quite a while in the morning as it lets quite a lot of light through.

whitelegg1

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 409
Location: Woodford Green

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 12:02 pm Post subject:
What about moving any mini growhouses, inside a bigger polythene greenhouse.. Would the 'double glazing' effect save my peas, beans, cabbages and carrots? Also beware of the wind....My mum just called almost in tears. Her three shelf mini growhouse had blown over...compost and seeds all over the patio!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 12:12 pm Post subject:
I tend to tie them to something (plastic greenhouse not mothers ) or place a few bricks in the base. Can people not bring them into the house overnight?

whitelegg1

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 409
Location: Woodford Green

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 12:14 pm Post subject:
Yes, I can just imagine the smell, after the cats have spent the night squatting in them!

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 12:57 pm Post subject:

whitelegg1 wrote:

Would the 'double glazing' effect save my peas, beans, cabbages and carrots?

Peas should be absolutely fine. Broad beans also. I don't think cabbages and carrots would worry too much either, they are all pretty hardy.

They are only promising a degree or two of frost at the very most. It will only set them back a bit - I really can't see any lasting damage happening. Save your indoor space and windowsills for the squashes, toms, french beans, etc, that you all sowed too early!!!!

whitelegg1

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 409
Location: Woodford Green

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 1:12 pm Post subject:
Good point, got over excited by the good weather. Would hate to have to go to Lidl again to get loads of cheap seeds!

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22790
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 05 1:25 pm Post subject:
Just feeling smug that I didn't get carried away this year when the sun came out! After last year when everything just sat and sulked through June, I'm trying not to be too hasty.

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