Frost and tomatoes

[Vince G]

It's been a bit nippy in the evenings in my neck of the woods the last couple of nights. Went to the lottie this morning, opened up the poly and the toms I planted in there last weekend look to have got a bit of frostbite...at least that's what I assume it is. Several leaves have gone slightly brown in places and a few others have curled up. Do frosted toms tend to recover OK?

I have erected a sort of curtain using fleece and canes around the toms - reckon that will help keep any future attacks at bay?

One of the sweetcorn has a mushy leaf too, so I reckon he copped a bit of frost too.

[alldigging]

I think tomatoes like to be 10'C or above... so doesn't even have to be a frost to put them off growing.

[SarzWix]

Yep, sounds like frost to me. Recovery will depend on whether the stems were affected or not. I had two recover from being frosted when my heater failed, the other 13 bought it. And that was with a double layer of fleece and a plastic sheet over them...

They will generally survive above 5c, but like alldigging said, 10c for growth.

[Vince G]

Hmm OK. I've started again from seed. Here's hoping they get a move on. Went to the lottie again today to check on them and all bar 2 Fantasio are crispy, plus one Apero.

Well you live and learn. Next year I'll definitely sow later and plant out later.

[SarzWix]

I've had them survive in the greenhouse quite happily at this time of year before now. It's been a very odd season! I would say that staggered sowings is probably the way to go, and then you cover every eventuality. And maybe keep the plants in 5" pots for a bit longer, then they can be out in the tunnel, but still kept close enough together to fleece them all against frost?

If you were a bit closer I'd donate some of my spares, but maybe you could buy a couple of plants from a GC just to get some early crops?