Cold frame - how much protection provided

[littlemoney]

I have a cold frame with a lid which doesn't close properly. How much protection from the cold will it provide given there is cold weather forecast this week with overnight temperatures down to 1 or 2 degrees. I have tomatoes and french beans in the cold frame. Will they be protected enough or should I bring the plants into the shed or house?

[Martin H]

I would bring them in.
If you cover the frame with something to hide the sky you should prevent them from being frosted, but temperatures that low will stop their growth and it will take them weeks to recover.

[annie8]

I’d bring them in. It’s too cold for tomatoes in my greenhouse and don’t think a cold frame would be warm enough either.

[littlemoney]

Thanks for thr replies. Would a shed be warm enough overnight or do the plants need to be in the house?

[ameno]

If it's a brick shed then it might be okay, but a wooden one isn't likely to be any warmer than the cold frame, so you should bring them into the house.

[Snadger]

I have a cold frame with a double glazed panel for a lid. I have sown sweetcorn direct and they have come up. Because it has wooden sides and a double glazed top I think the sweertcorn will be fine.....hopefully.
Good luck with yours littlemoney.

[Bren In Pots]

If you're at all worried about your plants I'd take them indoors, mine are spending the nights on either windowsills or the kitchen worktops.

[nickdub]

Just to add on the general topic of plants in structures at this time of year my Max/min thermometer registered +2C as the lowest last night in my large poly-tunnel. Loads of plants out there including Tomatoes, courgettes and just germinated cucumbers. The only visible damage was to the courgettes hanging in a box well off the ground where the largest outer leaves were all floppy earlier. Checked again just now and the leaves are mostly back OK but with minimal dead bits. The rest of the plants seem fine, although they may get set back in their growth.

PS I knew what the forecast said, was going to put an old paraffin heater on but that didn't work, so I just closed everything up tight and left the plants to take their chances with the cold.

[nickdub]

Just to add on the general topic of plants in structures at this time of year my Max/min thermometer registered +2C as the lowest last night in my large poly-tunnel. Loads of plants out there including Tomatoes, courgettes and just germinated cucumbers. The only visible damage was to the courgettes hanging in a box well off the ground where the largest outer leaves were all floppy earlier. Checked again just now and the leaves are mostly back OK but with minimal dead bits. The rest of the plants seem fine, although they may get set back in their growth.

PS I knew what the forecast said, was going to put an old paraffin heater on but that didn't work, so I just closed everything up tight and left the plants to take their chances with the cold.

[littlemoney]

Thanks for the additional advice. I am bringing my tomatoes into the house overnight just to be safe.