Can I leave plants outside tonight??

[CADS]

Hi

My veg plants (mainly toms and courgettes) are outside in my mini plastic greenhouse and the minimum temp forecast for tonight in my area is 12C. Do you think they will be ok? Have just finished building 2 small raised beds and paths so can't move and don't have any more strength.

Thanks

[seasprout]

You are more south than me... I've been leaving plants out for over a week, and today started putting them in.

My garden is more sheltered than some, with hedge and fencing around it.

I also have a Max/Min Thermometer outside so i can see just how cold it gets each night.

Tis up to you.

[rustylady]

Should be absolutely fine. A minimum temperature of 10 degrees is OK to keep them growing, and they will tolerate less although a frost will deffo kill them. Grow them hard(ish) and you'll get better, sturdier plants.

[Alice]

If it's 12 overnight you'll have no problem. It doesn't get warmer than that here and toms, cucs etc get on fine.

[sewer rat]

I agree - I just wish it got to 12 here in the height of summer
Rustylady makes a very good point (as does Bob Flowerdew in his books) about growing plants hard - they will crop better, longer and be more tolerant of poor conditions and disease resistant -I think that I grow some of the hardest lettuce in Scotland !!

[squashysu]

I think that I grow some of the hardest lettuce in Scotland !!

From what I have read tonight SW, about what you have been planting, I think you grow ALL the lettuce in Scotland, as well as onions, cabbage etc, etc, etc. lol! My word I have to ask, do you have a farm?? - nosey me!

SS

[sewer rat]

Not a farm as such - I started a market garden business last year, growing and selling veg, on 5 acres rented from a friend who has a farm. It has been hard, espesh with the poor summer last year, but I survived Year 1 and now run a small (50 per week) box scheme, sell at local Farmers Market and at the farm gate.

[littlemark]

I've been gradually moving various things out over the last couple of weeks. The biggest problem is not cold nights but a couple of Partridges which keep coming down to the house and pecking at the seedlings. They have a particular taste for Brassicas.

Mark

[squashysu]

Not a farm as such - I started a market garden business last year, growing and selling veg, on 5 acres rented from a friend who has a farm. It has been hard, espesh with the poor summer last year, but I survived Year 1 and now run a small (50 per week) box scheme, sell at local Farmers Market and at the farm gate.

Excellent, hope you have an exceptional year this year, I used to receive a box scheme last year, before i moved house, and i totally rate it, this is what helped me to GYO! (they dont deliver to my area now!)- sorry have taken over the thread!!!!

For my input on putting out seedlings, i have planted some out now, but the ones i think are too small I am keeping in the greenhouse and hardening them off for a couple of weeks, as most are now in their planters and final position for growing.

SS

[sewer rat]

The biggest problem is not cold nights but a couple of Partridges which keep coming down to the house and pecking at the seedlings. They have a particular taste for Brassicas.

Mark

Must be red legs are they ? Greys don't tend to touch the plants, just eat the bugs in and around them. If they are greys, let them live, if they are red legs - shoot the little buggers ! The red legs are having the same effect on greys as grey squirrels have on our native red squirrels.

[CADS]

Thanks everyone.

Left them out all night and they seem ok this morning. I glad I can leave them out now because my kitchen window and table are covered in plants. Also, keep having panic attacks every time my kids go anywhere near them.

Hope we all have a great summer with lots of nice crops.