Strong winds and sensitive plants...

[Likac66]

I have planted out 4 courgettes which seem to be quite happy on the allotment. Any sign of cold weather and they have been fleeced over, but so far so good.

Anyway, my mum told me not just to watch out for cold nights but also cold northernly winds as these could damage them too. I have started using xcweather after a recommendation from someone here and have found it to be a very accurate forecast as far as temps go.

Later in the week they are forecasting 35mph winds from a WNW direction. I am wondering if 35mph is quite strong and also WNW - would that be a cold wind?

Thanks for anyone who can shed light on this. Maybe I should just ask a geography teacher at work?!

[veggiechicken]

Wind speed is measured on the Beaufort scale https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale
So a 35mph wind is a Force 7 = High Wind/near gale/ Whole trees in motion/effort needed to walk against the wind.
As for prevailing wind, a lot depends on where you live and how exposed you are to the winds.
For me, the prevailing wind comes from the west, its a warm wet wind. Winds from the North are cold and from the East are bad news, usually bring snow in winter. Southerly winds are nice warm winds.

[solway cropper]

Courgettes will certainly need bracing against the wind. I have to do it as a matter of course but I live in west Cumbria where it's always windy!

I was reading in one of Joy Larkcom's books that wind can do as much damage to plants as frost so you really do need to be aware of it.

[SarzWix]

One of the reasons wind is a problem is that it dries the plants leaves out faster than they can draw up more moisture from the roots, so you can end up with a similar effect to frost, or sun scorch. So even a warm wind can cause damage in plants with 'soft' leaves.

[Likac66]

Blimey, 35mph is quite aggressive then. Will keep an eye on the forecast and if it looks like the wind is going to pick up I will fleece over them again.

[bearded bloke]

Ere you go Lilac,windburn on a courgette leaf looks like ...............

[rustylady]

Link doesn't work BB

[bearded bloke]

Wierd RL,it does on this try another way ...................








Picture shows in preview post,so heres hoping .........

[bearded bloke]

YAY,there it is

[zazen999]

What I do, as I know the prevailing wind comes from the southern side of my plot - is to put canes in at about 30 degree angles to the ground so that the bit in the ground is the prevailing wind end, and then drape a net over weighing it down on the lower side, letting it go over the top of the canes and then weighing it down at the back...

so the canes are over the seedlings like this but with the \ being at a lower angle

seedlings\

[Likac66]

Ere you go Lilac,windburn on a courgette leaf looks like ...............

Oooh, looks nasty. Definitely want to avoid that. Will cover with fleece Wed night if forecast stays the same.

Thanks everyone.

[MrLAH]

Genius zazen!

[Two_Sheds]

Blimey, 35mph is quite aggressive then.

I'm guessing you spend most of your time indoors or in a car?

Yes, 35mph is a strong wind to walk against, and even worse to try to cycle in