Frosted potato tops

[wildinthecountry]

Silly me! Covered my potatoes two nights ago when a frost was forecast - no frost so removed fleece. Last night - frosted! I see there are other threads here about frosted potatoes but its only got some of the top leaves on most of mine. I've got lots of long beds of them so don't want to give up unless I have to. Can they survive? Should I take off the frosted leaves? Can I cover them again and leave fleece on day as well as night for a few weeks? I shouldv earthed them up but they're in long narrow beds this year. Some earlies are about 10" high. My camellias are a real mess. Anyone know if they will make it too? Many thanks!

[Martin H]

Just leave them, they'll soon recover.

Same with the Camellias, the flowers get trashed this year but the plant itself will carry on as usual and make more flowers for next year.

[maytreefrannie]

Thanks for the encouraging words, Martin H. I haven't covered my (bin of) potatoes at all; been off for a couple of days at a family 'do' and I've been putting off checking on them. But from what you say, things might be OK or at least, even if they've been a bit affected, all is not lost.

[Bigmallly]

They'll be fine, it may knock them back a couple of weeks.

[marcofez]

Same thing happened to my spuds!! But they'll recover as "Bigmally" says!

[Knight of Albion]

The potatoes should be okay. All the action is under the soil and no frost will get down there at this time of year.

The camellia, the most exquisite bloom. The pure white camellia especially is one of the most beautiful flowers in all of nature in my opinion.
That beauty is matched by delicacy and unfortunately rain or frost will brown them. But I would expect you to get more blooms yet, so all is not lost.
The shrub itself originates from Asia, including the Himalayas and the highlands of Japan so is more than capable of standing up to anything the British weather can throw at it.

[wildinthecountry]

Thanks Martin H that's a relief. Looking back on the forum it seemed there was a -9C in June 2009 which finished off some folks spuds. Can't wait! I don't know if it would matter if fleece was on during sunny days if night temps drop again and don't get chance to remove it.

[wildinthecountry]

The potatoes should be okay. All the action is under the soil and no frost will get down there at this time of year.

The camellia, the most exquisite bloom. The pure white camellia especially is one of the most beautiful flowers in all of nature in my opinion.
That beauty is matched by delicacy and unfortunately rain or frost will brown them. But I would expect you to get more blooms yet, so all is not lost.
The shrub itself originates from Asia, including the Himalayas and the highlands of Japan so is more than capable of standing up to anything the British weather can throw at it.

The camellias are young ones I potted up in autumn, we can't grow them in beds here, soil too alkaline. They are gorgeous, one is Hawaii a lovely pink full bloomed variety. I have a huge older single white but its suffering lately and dropping its flowers despite feeding and watering with rainwater. Probably time to re-pot.

[Raybon]

Very envious! I bought a white camellia and it turned out to be pink - horrible with the yellow forsythia!

[Kristen]

Move the Camellias to a West facing wall (at this time of year at least). The only problem with them is the early morning sun heating up the frosted flowers / buds. On a West-facing wall they won't get direct sun, so can warm up "gently" and thus should not go brown.#

The Camellia plants, themselves, won't be bothered by the cold.