Don't forget the fleece

[BarleySugar]

I've just watched the weather forecast for the south east, possibility of a frost tonight, so to be on the safe side I've just fleeced the runner beans, potatoes, and moved the courgettes back into the greenhouse. Better safe than sorry!
Ann

[squashysu]

thanks Ann

Its really chilly here, i fleeced my runners last night and cloched my squash, so fingers crossed for no frost or safe plants!

SS

[rustylady]

Sorry, I must have missed that forecast - where did you get it from? BBC give cooler weather but sunny for the next week, but nothing approaching a frost here in East Anglia or in the Southeast!!

[Phill]

I'm sure it's good advice but I was well and truly seduced by all the good weather we've had lately and I've planted pretty much everything out on my Allotment.

I got down there today and fleeced my sweetcorn but then I ran out of it, so I have got everything crossed that we don't get a frost otherwise it could be bye bye new pots, courgette, heirloom climbing beans x4 varieties, runner beans and lettuce.

Is there such a thing as a sundance??

[bazzaboy]

Thanks Ann, have just checked BBC forecast and Lincoln (my area) Thirsk and Newcastle are all down to 1C by 3 a.m. which is getting mighty close.... (SE lowest forecast is 5C so you should be OK Ann and Co). Duh, why don't we all move to Florida (oh, spose they have hurricanes....). Trouble is by this stage I have more plants than fleece ) But it could prompt my favourite tale of Uncle Bob who died trying to save his crop....

Strategy: potatoes... remember my ol' mum's favourite saying, "They've two chances!" and do nowt, join Phill is a sundance (a sight for sore eyes and ailing potato plants I'd imagine...). Courgettey things, OK, do my best, give 'em a vest... Other stuff, give 'em a blessing....

Two questions about frost for the knowledgeable.... weather forecasters sometimes distinguish between "ground frost", "air frost" and a now new one "GRASS FROST"... what's the scientific explanation of that trio?
and...
A professional fruit grower I knew a while back had a spray system in his apple orchards that delivered a fine spray when the temperature fell towards freezing... I think it was particularly in the blossom and fruit forming stages.... What was that about, it sounds counter-intuitive. (I assume the spray was water not anti-freeze...)

Phill, I'm practising the moves.... bb.

=

[rustylady]

A professional fruit grower I knew a while back had a spray system in his apple orchards that delivered a fine spray when the temperature fell towards freezing... I think it was particularly in the blossom and fruit forming stages.... What was that about, it sounds counter-intuitive. (I assume the spray was water not anti-freeze)=

Frost causes damage by freezing the water in the plants and causing the cell walls to burst. If you spray with a fine mist of water then you keep the temperature just high enough to avoid this damage.

[bazzaboy]

Thanks RustyLady, but why doesn't the spray freeze and make the problem worse? Or is it warm water that's sprayed? If it's a really heavy frost presumably it doesn't work? bb.

[smallblueplanet]

It got down to 4.7C here last night - was all fleeced up. Tucked up again tonight!

[BarleySugar]

Forecast was BBC (local), and I know they don't always be too accurate. I can't remember what she said exactly, ground or air frost, but she said it could be enough to damage plants. Margate, Broadstairs etc were higher temps, getting colder as you moved west, being near the coast still I might be OK, but it didn't take long to cover stuff up, and it does feel cold.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Was down at the lottie 615 am this morning, watering my babies. No sign of frost. I've just done yet (another!) check on both met check and the BBC - no sign of frost thank goodness, but hopefully everything is covered OK - um, er, apart from the tatties, and peas, and beans and onions....... Bernie

[Snadger]

Some of my early spuds got frosted last night and guess what..........I forgot to cover the rest with fleece before I left the lottie tonight!

20th May today (nearly into flaming June!) with a hard frost last night....who would believe it! The joys of gardening spose!

[bazzaboy]

Very sorry to hear that Snadger, that's such a drag. Just heard the BBC forecast for tonight and Newcastle was +4C so you should be OK.... What happens when they're "frosted", do they re-sprout or is that the end of them? If a total disaster how do Sewer Rat and the Scottish grapes manage because SR was describing the scene of delayed hasty (commercial) potato planting a few weeks ago and it was evidently -4C in some Scottish regions last night.... Although as you say it's "nearly June" the latest frost (admitedly freak) in my area in the Midlands was about June 10th - eek!

bb.

[Norm]

Two questions about frost for the knowledgeable.... weather forecasters sometimes distinguish between "ground frost", "air frost" and a now new one "GRASS FROST"... what's the scientific explanation of that trio?

A Ground Frost is when the temperature drops to 4c or below. An Air Frost is when it gets to zero. Grass Frost is Hoar Frost which happens when damp air freezes.

Not wishing to bother anyone, but we're due an air frost next Tuesday up here.

[Arachne]

My weather-watcher is saying -1 for Biggin Hill area tonight.

Just wish I'd actually thought to fleece up *before* it was already dark and cold out...

[bazzaboy]

Norm, great info, thank you. bb.