Late Frost in Middle TN?

My area is apparently under a frost warning for tonight, which is odd since it was 82 degrees this past weekend. NOAA says it'll be a low of 34 with "patchy frost". This is only my second year gardening, so I'm not sure what - if anything - I should worry about! I have a bed of daffodils in full bloom and a bed of tulips with several that just opened or are on the verge! Should I cover these? Also, several of my lilies have started popping up. Do I need to worry about these? Or is the rule of thumb just usually anything with buds and flowers? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hey,
Your tulips and daffodils should be fine. The foliage should be fine on your lilies.

Shaigirl,

We are having what is known as Dogwood winter, there is still yet to come blackberry winter and Indian winter. Although they do not usually get as cold as the regular winter season any “Hard Frost / Freeze” should be treated as such and plants and such should be protected with a sheet or some type of light covering to avoid damage to the “New Growth” that has started. Here in Tennessee we often have what is known as wet and cold frost so when it hits it is harsh and will do damage to some or most type of plants .

As the sun comes up and the frost begins to burn off the cold air hovers close to the ground creating a chest type freezer effect doing more damage than the actual frost. That is why it is recommended that you cover the plants, bushes, shrubs, and small trees that were / are set out at the first of spring . I hope this helps you out and you did not lose many of your flowers with this first frost….

Remember we still have two more to go for our area .you can still plant things and they will grow and do well outside now but at a frost advisory / warning just use a bed sheet to cover them and they will be fine .

Good luck & Happy Gardening

Sarge

Sarge

what are Dogwood winter, there is still yet to come blackberry winter and Indian winter and are they particular only to TN or is this something the entire country is experiencing? It is 17 degrees here right now and we have yet to see any green.

Carolyn,

While many folks may seem to think it is nothing more than folklore it has been the way that farmers have planted for years in the Eastern United States. All three winters happen in the eastern United States and some parts of other states. It is a way to tell gardeners not to plant until after the dogwood trees have bloomed, Thus reason, dogwood winter we get several good weeks of mid to warm weather to bring things into bloom then it hits. Often bringing with it frost or even snow on some occasions.

In your area you could look for dogwood trees to see if they are blooming as it is the way the Indians would watch for the signs as it would be the time to plant “after they had bloomed”. however, in the northern areas it does take time for your area to thaw out I find the best resource is the elders or older folks that have lived in the area for a long time taking time to talk to them and finding a elder gardening buddy that will take you under their wing is best . The ole ways of doing things are not always the fastest but the knowledge is vast.

You may find there is signs to look for in your area just like ours that gives you a heads up as when to plant and when you can break ground and set seed . The last frost date, and when the elders begin doing things .

Then there is Blackberry winter it is not as cold yet the temperature will again drop close to the freeze mark again to produce the blackberry blossoms and that is where it gets its name . theses are two different times and often confused as one . However, even though some of the blackberry bushes will bloom they are not the true wild ones and it often confuses folks about the second phase or the true Blackberry winter.

The third being Indian winter, it is the last and least cold snap in the regional area and is for nothing more than to chill the ground and seed that are in the ground to help brake the hard shell from them and make them productive . All three hit within weeks of each other and helps with the garden and prep of planting season. Be it folklore or not it was passed down to the folks from the Indians so the Spanish folks could survive back when they first arrived through the harsh winters ( remember the history books in school) .

As spring began the winter seem to come back so they thought and again the Indians had to explain to the Spanish folks what was happening and why Maw Nature was doing what she was doing . So the Spaniards and the years their after gave the third phase of winter snaps after Spring had sprung the name Indian winter. ( This was explained to me by my Shaman , and several elders of the council from the Apache that I belong to)

Sarge