Author Topic: Seeds v Frost (Read 3356 times)

Goldcraig · « **on:** March 27, 2014, 09:19:16 am »

So , last Sunday (the last possible day to get the seeds in before I travelled back to work) I spent all day planting, building the polytunnel etc and sat back at the end of the day with that warm happy feeling that all was "in"
It was with total horror that I wakened up on Monday morning, only to have to scrape the ice from the car before the school run

Can someone please tell me (reassure me, tell me what I want to hear etc.) that my seeds that were planted outside, will be ok as they had not germinated yet?

(please, please , please, I promise not to shout at the dogs, chickens or ducks for going into the veg patch again).....

Have a great day !!!!

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2014, 09:37:56 am »

Seeds are designed to get plants through the hard times so they will be fine.

Once they germinate however, you will need to protect any frost sensitive shoots from frost. This applies to potatoes as well.

Well done for getting it all done

benkt · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2014, 11:27:28 am »

Get some fleece! Its pretty cheap - from £20 for 100m x1.5m which should cover most of an allotment of seeds/seedlings. We use it everywhere as it gives good frost protection and keeps the birds off the seeds and small seedlings as well. At this time of year, I reckon its not worth putting anything out that's not covered in some way, either with a cloche, fleece or at the very least netting to keep the birds off.

Treud na Mara · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2014, 12:35:33 pm »

Fleece also protects from wind, but only if weighted down by the huge stones you have removed from the plot to plant in, if you're on top of cliffs in Caithness

Fleecewife · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2014, 12:59:19 pm »

Quote from: Treud na Mara on March 27, 2014, 12:35:33 pm

Fleece also protects from wind, but only if weighted down by the huge stones you have removed from the plot to plant in, if you're on top of cliffs in Caithness

Fleece also flaps which damages seedlings, unless supported above the crop some way and is beaten flat by rain and snow. I once had my entire winter brassica crop killed by snow when I had covered it with mesh to keep the butterflies off. The deep snow lay on top of this and flattened the plants, which then rotted beneath it. The snow lay for three weeks by which time the crop was destroyed, and that was mesh not fleece. But as an emergency measure if Goldcraig's seedlings emerge when a frost is threatened, fleece will work.

I use fleece in the tunnel but not outdoors and raise any tender plants inside then plant them out when the weather's better.

benkt · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2014, 01:19:31 pm »

You can use water pipes, cut to length and bent into hoop to provide a cheap support for fleece or micromesh....

Goldcraig · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2014, 02:04:42 pm »

Many thanks for all your replies......

Coeur de Chene · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2014, 08:10:54 pm »

I spent yesterday planting yoghurt pot after yoghurt pot with flower and vegetable seeds,placing them gently in my makeshift greenhouse. At 4 o'clock today , after having spent most of the day inside doing boring paperwork, I realised it was warm- very warm, 21 degrees warm. My little green house was dripping in condensation and felt like a sauna when I opened it...You may have frozen your seeds, I have cooked mine!