The frost watch

[Sunflowersinthewind]

I am almost obsessed with looking at the weather app now relying to figure out when I can plant out what I have bought and what would survive in my unheated greenhouse.

I currently have inside many fuchsias, snapdragons, busy lizzies and tomato plants. Outside in greenhouse, I have seedlings of marigolds, zinnia, aster, sunflowers and some plug plants of varying perennials.

When would you be planting out any of this. I know my tomatoes have to stay in. They are not the healthiest anyway, having grown them from seed too early but I won't give up on them. Also how safe is the unheated greenhouse do you think? Temps at night are due to go down to 4 degrees but feel like 1 degree!

Also if anyone else is wondering the same questions the post here! Honestly mumsnet at the moment has been my go-to guide for gardening questions.

I'm a bit mean to my plants, My sunflowers and cosmos has been outside for over a couple of weeks now. I put them by a little sheltered bit with some bubble wrap on the really chilly nights. I planted the dahlias and other tubers out too as i figured they're a bit like potatoes and as long as the leaves tops don't get frosted they'll be ok under the ground.

I'm feeling a bit braver about leaving things out overnight, the coldest night on the 2 week forecast is 7 degrees and if my plants can't survive that they're doomed anyway! The good weather last week and the rain over the weekend has helped everything along but I just need the sun to come back now!

I'm a bit disappointed with my cosmos seedlings, they're so leggy. I think I planted them too early before there was enough sunlight and I'm not sure I can pinch them into shape. I'm pretty sure there's enough time to plant some new ones though.

I planted out runner beans yesterday. I felt very brave. They didn't die over night, so that is good! They were extremely tall and unmanageable and had run out of nutrients in their loo rolls so it was do or die.

And I've started to move tomatoes out of the conservatory, to the more exposed grow house. But only a few at a time

Mine all went out. No idea if that was right. But I got all of mine with a huge discount from b&q and to be honest if I hadn’t have planted them they were dying anyway. Won’t be buying from them again.
so will keep an eye on the weather to see if I need to cover them.

my beloved seedlings that I have loved and cared for over the last few months. That’s a different matter. I have been putting them out an hour extra at a time. Got to do five hours today but can’t bring myself to let them out for that long. I really need to get a grip.

but can’t bring myself to let them out for that long. I really need to get a grip.

Yes, I am nodding in solidarity.

I evicted lots of mine from the greenhouse yesterday, they’re all still there this morning! Touching lots of wood 😁

A killer frost makes me chuckle 😂 my zinnias are about 15cm high I would say.. they look quite healthy! Have been in the unheated greenhouse since Saturday but seem ok so far. Might wait for some sun hopefully at the weekend and put them out. 🤞

So. Help needed! My seedling will have been out for six hours today. At which point do I say enough is enough and leave them overnight in the cold frame. I mean. That’s nail biting stuff right there 😂

@Paranoidandroidmarvin if you're worried could you leave one or two of each int he cold frame for a few nights just to make sure they're ok?, then when they are put the rest out?

That's what I've done with 3 sweetpea seedlings last week, they're ok and I'll do the rest when it's dry again (so possibly never!).

That’s a really good idea!!! I will mourn the ones that don’t make it though 😂

@goldenshoe we have not had rain for weeks and weeks here. Had some finally this morning.

The sun has come out so I'm getting my gardening gear on and making the most of it!

@Paranoidandroidmarvin I'm almost Highlands in Scotland, if my seedlings can make it, so can yours!

I've had sweet peas out for weeks, they are fine, even had a few light frosts, they are pretty hardy.

Well. I have chosen the sacrificial seedlings!!! May the odds be ever in their favour 😂

May the Force (May the Fourth!) be with them. And you.

😂

Mine are surviving the nights so far. Something has munched on 2 of my echinops but they’re near a robin nest so hopefully the birds will help me out,

I found two snails mating on the ruddy path earlier. I interrupted it and swiftly relocated them both. I feel this may be a long war. I am so qorried about putting my dahlias in the ground.

@Paranoidandroidmarvin that's proper brave stuff. I shall think of the two seedlings out there tonight.

The weather is looking absolutely balmy, so I am going to plant it all out (bar zinnia and marigold seedlings) this weekend. Then watch the slugs and snails come out like a plague.

Planted out my lobelia into the hanging baskets today and will pot out cosmos zinnias and delphiniums into the flower beds this weekend I reckon- gonna have to do it at some point right?! 😂

I was very brave and put out two dahlias yesterday, pretty much everything bar the tiny seedlings is going out this weekend. We are due a really warm spell so it should be ok

@Sunflowersinthewind i did the same. I told myself to get a grip and put everything out yesterday all except a few which are really small so will give them another week on the window ledge.

I've been hardening off for the last two days .. we are on for a good spell and I doubt it'll frost again so I'm going with a couple more days then I'm going for it .

I've left some dahlias out tonight
OK, not my best ones, but definitely high second tier.

The sunflowers went out yesterday in a very bold move. I imagine the slugs were out there popping champagne and tucking their napkins into their collars. I almost darent go check on them this morning

@TheSpottedZebra I am interested in the dahlia ranking system!