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Frost

Bf206Bf206 Posts: 234
in Problem solving

I'm in South London but sounds like even here there will be frosts come the weekend - gah! I've got a roll of fleece but I'm just working out what I need to do...

My broad beans, peas and garlic were all planted last Autumn and are frost-hardy - but does that apply now the beans & peas have flowered / set?

I'm also a bit worried about my blackberry/raspberry canes as they've been growing strongly / have lots of buds.

My beetroot presumably is especially vulnerable. Half of it has turned red from too much rain but the other half is looking healthy. And my potatoes have got shoots coming out of the top of their containers so no scope for earthing up.

Basically, i guess it all needs fleecing to be safe?!

Posts

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,391

    If you have enough fleece i would do the lot - can't harm can itimage

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,025

    I'm not going to worry about my raspberries - after all they grow well in Scotland and they have much later frosts up there so I'm presuming they'll cope.  Blackberries should also be ok. 

    I'm going to fleece my figs and gooseberries as they've formed fruit.  

    Beetroot are frost hardy so they'll be ok.

    Cover your potatoes with layers of newspaper, tucking it in around the rims of the containers. 

    Peas and beans - I'd try to fleece them if you can - but don't panic - as you say you're in South London where it is generally milder so hopefully the frost won't be too bad - and if you do lose a few flowers more will develop.

    That's what I would do - good luck image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Bf206Bf206 Posts: 234

    Thanks all. It's not (only!) laziness which is why I'm asking! My two year old especially will invariably try and attack anything fleeced so I'd rather keep it to a minimum. Thanks for the newspaper tip dovefromabove - helpful as I probably don't have quite enough for everything. Although I could do something about that...

     

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,025

    Don't forget to take the fleece off during the daytime otherwise you're creating perfect conditions for fungal problems to develop image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 22,584

    I don't think it will really be cold enough to cause damage. I looked at the met office forecast and the coldest for London is +5°. Keep an eye on the forecast.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    Don't worry about tucking the newspaper in.  At this time of year you only get frost on windless nights. Different in the winter, obviously.

    Put  newspaper over the potatoes though.

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