[andtiggertoo]

Until joining this forum I used to think frost damage occurred at 0' C.

I now realise that it's more complicated. There is a difference between ground and air frost and temperatures higher than zero can cause damage.

So at what temparature does frost damage occur.

Where can I find a list of at what temperatures commonly grown veg will survive, in particular the less hardy ones such as french beans, potatoes and cucurbits.

I have searched on here and my own books and seed packets, but no luck so far.

thanks

[JayG]

In still air a ground frost is possible at temperatures of about 5C (or less)

Wind tends to mix the cold air up and stop it settling at ground level, therefore reducing the risk, which is why some sheltered and low-lying areas are at greater risk (frost-pockets.)

Frost will kill or at least damage the less hardy crops (depending on the severity of it) - the strictly tender summer crops such as cucurbits, beans (except broad beans) and sweetcorn tend to go into varying levels of sulking the more the temperature drops below about 10C.

[andtiggertoo]

thank you Jay that's really helpful.

I was thinking of putting the cuce's and beans out when night temps were above 5 degrees but I will hold off a while and be ready with the fleece once they are planted if it drops below 10 degrees.

Up here in yorkshire I bet the night temperature falls below 10 degrees even in mid summer 

I now need to find some temperature statistic for my region, will search t'internet !

[JayG]

Up here in yorkshire I bet the night temperature falls below 10 degrees even in mid summer 

I now need to find some temperature statistic for my region, will search t'internet !

You are probably right about minimum temperatures in Yorkshire, but like most things to do with gardening the science isn't all black and white; young plants are far more vulnerable (especially if it's windy as well as cold) than the same plants when they've grown and toughened up a bit.

Here are some statistics for Sheffield (I am very fortunate to have an online weather station with a very good website just round the corner from where I live!) As you can see it's only really June-September which average out at a 10C minimum.

http://www.sheffieldweather.co.uk/Averages/MONTHLYAIRMINAVERAGE.htm

[andtiggertoo]

brilliant website link. That's probably close enough to be a good guide as i'm just about 35m north of you. My particular aspect of garden could wipe out that distance i expect.

thanks

[cooperman]

As a rule and me being in the south (just south of Cambridge actually) I dont put tender stuff out until the end of May.  Everyone is generally in too much of a hurry on my allotment.
For me the potatoes go in about the end of March beginning of April depending on the weather.
A few peeps on my allotment put their potatoes in very early and low and behold got severely frosted..... say no more also some have put their beans in a couple of weeks ago...
its worth a punt as I do this as well BUT I always have a backup crop on the go....

[fatcat1955]

Same here Cooperman, you would think it was July on our allotments. Beans, courgettes all planted by some. 1 bloke even has his sweetcorn planted out without any protection.

[Old Tom]

Same here Cooperman, you would think it was July on our allotments. Beans, courgettes all planted by some. 1 bloke even has his sweetcorn planted out without any protection.

I tried that!

Second lot just sprouting in the greenhouse. I`ll learn sooner or later

[andtiggertoo]

I am now itching put my french beans and curbits out. But metcheck and netweather seem very pessimistic about risk of frost in my area. Unlike the BBC. Netweather predict a 0.6'C minimum temp on wednesday. 

I am growing my veg in raised beds ( varying from 8" to 16" from ground), should I be focusing on the air frost rather than ground frost.

Maybe I should take the plunge, plant out and then cover with fleece.

[andtiggertoo]

Apologies for resurrecting an old post. What temperature damages the flower buds on fruit trees. If the flowers are already out what temperature damages the fruit to follow. I think I need to rush out with fleece but wondered what temperature it is really necessary at. Thx

[AnneB]

I haven't even sown my cucumbers, sweetcorn or french beans.  They will either be decimated by frost and / or the wind if you plant them out now, or will be ridiculously leggy and feeble if you keep them indoors.   

We can expect frost well into May in Yorkshire.

I know it is so tempting to get cracking, but patience really pays off.

There are plenty of hardier veg to get started on in the mean time such as brassicas, carrots, beetroot, parsnips etc.

[DD.]

andtiggertoo has now discovered the pitfalls of dragging up an old post!

AnneB - if you notice - he posted about his beans etc last year.

It would have been less confusing to post a new thread.

[andtiggertoo]

Sorry folks i see the error of my ways

[DD.]

I'm not saying it's wrong, but it can lead to a bit of confusion, which in my case is not hard to achieve.

[AnneB]

I didn't notice the date, which, as you point out DD, makes all the difference......