Last Frost Advice?

[fiskies]

I've started puting my potted seedlings out into the blowaway during the day now for much needed light, warmth and a bit of breeze to promote stronger plants but I'm curious if there is a way of predicting the last frost of the season. Realistically I want to leave them throughout the day AND night in the bloaway, closing the door at night.

Does anyone know of a sure fire way to tell or what methods do people employ to help save those outside for an unexpected frost. My problem is I work shifts and I can't always rely on er indoors to bring them in if I'm at work.

[Davyburns]

if you buy the RHS app for your phone, they will send you frost alerts.

[oldie]

This link is often recommended but remember we got hit with very late frosts last year so nothing is certain. First and last frost dates for towns and cities in the UK and USA

[pb1uk]

If you had to say would you predict further frosts this year?

[miker2d2]

If you had to say would you predict further frosts this year?

yes!! frosts in sunny southampton for the last few nights

[perkin]

Certainly there are usually frosts through March/April and sometimes into May in the south of England - last night being a prime example. You shouldn't leave any tender plants like courgettes, toms, chillies, etc, out overnight just yet.

[Jono]

Thick frost here in Essex, and I live on one of the mildest districts in the UK - I reckon there will definitely be more frosts.

[Potstubsdustbins]

More to come for certain minus 3 in the GH last night.

Colin

[kentish girl]

met check is showin frosty nights for at least another week possibly longer

[Nicos]

If you had to say would you predict further frosts this year?

gosh yes- absolutely!!

( where abouts are you????...can you pop your rough location on your profile????)

My last frost is supposed to be 14/15th May - last year it was early June!
That's up to 10 more weeks of a potential frost risk!

You have to remember that you get frosts starting at 4C ( not 0C )

Always keep fleece, old newspaper, cardboard,blankets/sheets etc and something to secure it all ( bricks and clothes pegs)-and a torch!!!! very handy so you can rush out to cover up!! ( NB- that's easier said than done though for a lottie- but it works well for in the garden!!)

Sometimes you get a couple of weeks with no frost- then maybe a couple of dodgy/borderline nights- then fine- and then , out of nowhere, frost- just when you've been lulled into a false sense of security- and awww...a load of frosted seedlings/blossom- and after all those weeks of nurturing too

It really is such a gamble to start off plants so early in the season- but sometimes, with a lot of care, it does pay off!

[King Carrot]

If I do plant things a bit early I always like to think that I've got a back up plan or a few more coming along that are out of harms way - and even if I haven't its the thought that counts

[Two_Sheds]

would you predict further frosts this year?

It's not a prediction, it's a certainty

We have frost until the beginning of May, and we're one of the milder areas of the UK

[Kristen]

Does anyone know of a sure fire way to tell or what methods do people employ to help save those outside for an unexpected frost. My problem is I work shifts and I can't always rely on er indoors to bring them in if I'm at work.

Can you easily get an extension lead to the blow-away? I was just wondering if the smallest electric greenhouse heater would be OK on an extension lead? If that was the case you could then not worry about it - if you were home, and got them indoors on a cold night, you could turn the extension off. If you were home late, and an unexpected frost came, at least the heater would keep the frost off.

Blow-away has almost zero insulation value (unless you throw a douvet over it!), but it will keep windchill off.

But even though its insulation is poor I don't think it would use a lot of electricity to keep the frost off (and it gets less so as March becomes May), although personally if I was at home I would want to save the money and bring them in for the night instead ... but I'd hate to lose the plants because I got caught out by an unexpected frost on a shift-night

Something like these:
Small Greenhouse Heaters

[pb1uk]

I feel i have vastly exposed my amateur experience in my first post on this thread. Call it naivety. I'm in Nottingham and has been a few forsty nights this week! I expect a few more unfortunately

[elsie-scot]

I feel i have vastly exposed my amateur experience in my first post on this thread. Call it naivety. I'm in Nottingham and has been a few forsty nights this week! I expect a few more unfortunately

Don't worry, most of us have probably been there too. It is easy to get all excited at the thought of the growing season. I started my tomatoes too early last year (1st year of proper GH), and was so fed up taking them in and out of the unheated GH. Def leaving later to start this year, most things catch up.