Beginner Gardening: Gardening in the Winter, Fall, 1 by Gymgirl

Gymgirl wrote:
I brought my seedling trays into the garage last night, and covered everything else under blankets on the covered patio, in a protected corner.

Today, I will put up all the hoops, and cover them with the perforated plastic sheeting I got from Territorial Seed Company. Once the plastic is up, it won't come down until spring. I purchased those cheapie mover's blankets from Harbor Freight, with will throw them over the sheeting, as necessary, for the overnight dips.

I've observed that, as long as there's a reasonable break in the dips below freezing, e.g. nighttime in the 20s but highs (with, hopefully, some sunshine) the next day upwards into the 40s, the plants do fine. It's multiple days in a row of total freezing temps, night AND day that does the damage.

Also, give everything a good deep watering before the temp dips. I've read that most of the damage done is due more to plant dehydration than the actual cold. The plants need reserve moisture to keep their tissues from freezing, or something to that effect.

Finally, remember not to let any leaves touch any plastic. Where it does touch, there will be freezer burn. If needed, put an old sheet on first, then overlay with your plastic sheeting, then the blankets. That much layering for a short period should keep everything ok.

LMK how it goes.

1lisac,
I just tranplanted beets last Sunday, and they are taking off in this cool weather. I will cover the bed they're in with the perforated plastic. It'll be relatively comfortable underneath, averaging around 40°-50° underneath, depending on the ambient temp outside the hoop. I vent both ends for airflow, plus, there are holes every 6" on the sheeting. You can see the transplants in the pic below, on the left side of the cabbages.

Linda
Thumbnail by Gymgirl





This message was edited Nov 14, 2014 10:11 AM