Protecting some plants from possible snow in New Jersey.

Ruth n Jersey

Ruth n Jersey

Well-known Member
Location
Northern New Jersey
They are predicting some possible snow for New Jersey tonight..
The last time we had snow this time of year was in 1977.
I hope they are wrong. Many fruit trees that have blossoms will be damaged.totes 2 (800x600).jpgtotes (1024x768) (800x600).jpg
I went out early this morning and covered my peas .lettuce and cabbage. They can take some cold but not freezing temperatures and snow.
I hope these plastic totes will help. It might get windy so I put a couple of bricks on top.
 

I think those totes with bricks on top, will work very well!

Remember to prop them open a little, during the daytime, for a while, when you are able to, for that air circulation.

I don't think those cold temps will bother those items you planted. I once put out cabbage, extremely early, and while it didn't take off growing for a while, they all withstood the very cold winds, and eventually grew well, productive and hardy.
I used plastic milk jugs, with tops and bottoms cut off, to give them a bit of protection, when they were young and looked a bit tender, and it was still wintry and chilly!

Peas love the chill, as well, …….usually. :rolleyes::sneaky:

Have they sprouted and broken ground yet, the peas?
If not, I think it would delay them a bit, but they are very "cool" 😎🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
 
I agree, I remember that we had a slew of weather systems tearing through NJ that dropped in from Canada and by the time it all ended, we'd seen just about everything. The snow won't amount to anything, but unfortunately there is a freeze warning up and it will impact the new plants our landscapers just put in.
 
I live in central Virginia. I'm gonna get frost tonight and tomorrow night (will be under 32° both nights).
There will be hard-freezes out west in the mountains.
My wood stove is loaded and ready for me to put a match to it, but it's still in the mid 50s.

I have a friend who owns a greenhouse. We always think about folks who plant early around here. In this area, you're not safe until Mother's Day. This happens every year, bit it's really cuttin' it close this year. Monday night's forecast is 38° but lots of us are down in hollows where it's always chillier, so I may see frost again.
 
The cold front came through our area earlier today, and the temps have been well below normal....and we may get some frost tonight/early morning. Our humidity was low enough that we just got a little rain this morning, but the NE U.S. could see some late season snow.
According to the long range forecasts, I may not get my garden planted until about the 20th of May.
 
Don M. said:
The cold front came through our area earlier today, and the temps have been well below normal....and we may get some frost tonight/early morning. Our humidity was low enough that we just got a little rain this morning, but the NE U.S. could see some late season snow.
According to the long range forecasts, I may not get my garden planted until about the 20th of May.
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I'm in the middle of Virginia, Don. Gonna be frost tonight and tomorrow night.

We just had a second line of rain come through a few minutes ago, but the wind is gonna push the clouds out real quick, so the temps are gonna drop even further.

Gotta love Spring, huh?
In like a lion and out like a schizophrenic, I always say.
 
Kaila said:
I think those totes with bricks on top, will work very well!

Remember to prop them open a little, during the daytime, for a while, when you are able to, for that air circulation.

I don't think those cold temps will bother those items you planted. I once put out cabbage, extremely early, and while it didn't take off growing for a while, they all withstood the very cold winds, and eventually grew well, productive and hardy.
I used plastic milk jugs, with tops and bottoms cut off, to give them a bit of protection, when they were young and looked a bit tender, and it was still wintry and chilly!

Peas love the chill, as well, …….usually. :rolleyes::sneaky:

Have they sprouted and broken ground yet, the peas?
If not, I think it would delay them a bit, but they are very "cool" 😎🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Click to expand...
Kaila, the peas are about 2" tall. It is 11 pm here and I can hear the wind whipping around. The hubby said there is a mixture of rain and snow coming down and the temp is at the freezing level.
Glad I covered them and put bricks on top.
Time will tell.
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
Kaila, the peas are about 2" tall. It is 11 pm here and I can hear the wind whipping around. The hubby said there is a mixture of rain and snow coming down and the temp is at the freezing level.
Glad I covered them and put bricks on top.
Time will tell.
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The wind is whipping around here in the middle of Virginia as well, Ruth, but the temps are still low 40s. It shouldn't hit freezing until just before dawn. Tomorrow we should be there around 3AM.

Right now it's cold enough for me to fire up my wood stove so I won't blast myself out of the house but can get it warmed up for the overnight burn.
 
Everything comes in handy, I planted some new shrubs last week and while hardy I worry as it is new planting. Two large flowerpots worked for the small shrubs but nothing for the bigger one.

Looked around and spied the battered up garbage can with no lid the previous owner left, problem solved. Let the neighbors wonder why I have an upside down garbage can in the yard, gives them something to talk about.
 
Lee said:
Everything comes in handy, I planted some new shrubs last week and while hardy I worry as it is new planting. Two large flowerpots worked for the small shrubs but nothing for the bigger one.

Looked around and spied the battered up garbage can with no lid the previous owner left, problem solved. Let the neighbors wonder why I have an upside down garbage can in the yard, gives them something to talk about.
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Stick out of these partway under it:

animal tail.jpg

We'll all chip in and buy you something nice if you record yourself sitting on it, screaming for help!
 
Aunt Marg said:
What's the verdict, Ruth n Jersey?

Did you fair okay?
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I gave a peek at the peas and they seem ok. I'll probably leave them covered until I see what the temperature will be tonight. My Hostas are another story. I couldn't cover them all but I know the snow won't kill them. I suppose they will look a bit mangy this summer but they are tough.
You never know what Mother Nature is going to throw your way. Recently though I think she needs to calm down a bit. garder and snow small.JPGHostas small.JPGHostas small.JPG
 
Ruth n Jersey said:
I gave a peek at the peas and they seem ok. I'll probably leave them covered until I see what the temperature will be tonight. My Hostas are another story. I couldn't cover them all but I know the snow won't kill them. I suppose they will look a bit mangy this summer but they are tough.
You never know what Mother Nature is going to throw your way. Recently though I think she needs to calm down a bit. View attachment 103674View attachment 103675View attachment 103675
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Keeping my fingers crossed for you, Ruth.
 
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Very nice to read your update, @Ruth n Jersey

and everyone else's comments, too.

I think that being near that foundation, helps to shelter those hostas of yours, but as you know, nothing permanently harms those plants! :sneaky:


I thought I would only see cold, windy, stormy rain, hereabouts,
but am several hours North of you,
and there were large wet snowflakes, falling in sideways direction, all the first half of the day, today.
Brrr…..

But it was pretty to watch out the window, as always is..... with memories of other years, long gone by, when there were snowstorms in May, too.
 
In the 80's - we'd not lived in Texas for long, we had palm trees on our property and one year in May the peaches were growing so nice and one morning they were all"frozen". It had got cold the previous night and stayed cold the whole day, so it can happen almost anywhere given the right circumstances.
 

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