Why was this winter so harsh?

Fire

The Met was forecasting that London was pulling out of the frost period this weekend, but that seems to have changed and night temps are now looking to hover near zero next week. Day temp forecasts have dropped a lot too. I was so looking forward to start tentatively putting plants out, but no, we're still a way off down here. Forecasts of 20oC are now down to 12. Feeling disappointed.

TheGreenMan

I’ve also been doing the Hokey Cokey with the plants over the last week or so. Minus 4 every night but beautiful and warm and sunny during the day. 

I’ve lost a lot of potted plants this winter/spring. Even ones that survived the Beast from the East. 

Here’s hoping the nights start to stay above 0 and I can leave the pots outside. 

Now that I have a garden I can get them in the ground which should (hopefully) help. 

B3

Frost on the grass the last two mornings. I wouldn't take too much notice of the forecast for London at the moment @Fire😒

Big Blue Sky

This year has been incredibly unsuccessful for my tulips. With one exception they all performed much worth than in the previous years and some didn’t even get to flower properly. Not sure if it’s to do with a few frosty nights in April, but I have never been so disappointed with tulips like this spring. 

All bulbs were fresh, bought from a reputable supplier, same care as any other year, mostly even the same varieties. Trying to bring it past me and not get discouraged for the next season. 🤞

Obelixx

Tulips don't like wet winters.

I reckon all this is due to the jet stream behaving erratically and just think what winters will be like if/when the Gulf Stream gets pushed down below all the cold water ice melt from the Arctic as it "melts, thaws and dissolves itself into a dew" or a great load of giant icebergs floating south. 

Valley Gardener

@JamesS-B
Can I join you in the Hokey Cokey?  In out,in out, every morning and evening for the last 2 weeks, also covering and uncovering my babies in the cold frame. It just gets so low at night. We are in the Rhondda so mountains all around,and the sun goes quickly behind them.   
I lost quite a few plants this winter,it was just too cold even for some of the hardiest. My big clump of Lemon thyme has departed after being fine for years.😕

Fire

I wonder if London will be still getting frosts into May - and the still the east winds come. Looks like more frosts here possible Wed and Thurs night.

London hasn't a 'cold' winter, in the sense that I don't think we got below -3oC all winter. A couple of weeks of lying snow, not many very hard frosts around that -  but we have had night temps closer to zero more often and longer than usual. And, as others have mentioned, ongoing winds from the east - weeks and weeks, maybe months of east wind without a break.

wild edges

I complained that my stachys was killed off by the weather but I forgot about the bird damage last year. I found this plant looking very unhappy in Morrison's but it was only £1 so I took a chance and nursed it back to health in the greenhouse. It was looking amazing when I planted it out but the birds have struck again   Too close to the naughty sparrow corner I suspect.