Comments on: The Iceman Cometh: April freeze casualties http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/04/29/the-iceman-cometh/ Hardy plants for hardy souls Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:24:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Susan http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/04/29/the-iceman-cometh/comment-page-1/#comment-1426 Susan Thu, 11 May 2006 00:23:40 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=582#comment-1426 I'm delighted to hear that the rosemary can survive such a chilly evening. I've been brave/foolhardy and set out a few tender plants already ... but have hedged my bets with mini greenhouses constructed of the bottom halves of several plastic milk jugs. My neighbor had given me a few tomato seedlings in a milk-jug planter, and that gave me the idea. No, I haven't set out my tomato seedlings yet, though I have been leaving them out in their pot each day and most nights. (Soon, soon!) On the chillier evenings, I move them into my four-wheeled greenhouse, aka the minivan, which is where they spent their first few weeks in my care. I’m delighted to hear that the rosemary can survive such a chilly evening.

I’ve been brave/foolhardy and set out a few tender plants already … but have hedged my bets with mini greenhouses constructed of the bottom halves of several plastic milk jugs.

My neighbor had given me a few tomato seedlings in a milk-jug planter, and that gave me the idea.

No, I haven’t set out my tomato seedlings yet, though I have been leaving them out in their pot each day and most nights. (Soon, soon!) On the chillier evenings, I move them into my four-wheeled greenhouse, aka the minivan, which is where they spent their first few weeks in my care.

]]> By: Kathy Purdy http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/04/29/the-iceman-cometh/comment-page-1/#comment-1371 Kathy Purdy Wed, 03 May 2006 00:23:37 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=582#comment-1371 Bill and M Sinclair-- That wasn't even the coldest night, just the first one. The coldest it's gotten since I planted the hydrangea on April 13th was 22.9F on April 26. Bill and M Sinclair–
That wasn’t even the coldest night, just the first one. The coldest it’s gotten since I planted the hydrangea on April 13th was 22.9F on April 26.

]]> By: bill http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/04/29/the-iceman-cometh/comment-page-1/#comment-1370 bill Tue, 02 May 2006 22:48:14 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=582#comment-1370 I'll second the last comment. We've already had some triple-digit days. Although it does sometimes still get cool enough in the evening to warrant a heavy shirt. There are some really big rosemaries out along a country fenceline where I travel some. They are over 5 foot tall. I've been meaning to stop sometime and check the fragrance. Some are much more fragrant than others. I’ll second the last comment. We’ve already had some triple-digit days. Although it does sometimes still get cool enough in the evening to warrant a heavy shirt.

There are some really big rosemaries out along a country fenceline where I travel some. They are over 5 foot tall. I’ve been meaning to stop sometime and check the fragrance. Some are much more fragrant than others.

]]> By: M Sinclair Stevens (Texas) http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/04/29/the-iceman-cometh/comment-page-1/#comment-1369 M Sinclair Stevens (Texas) Sun, 30 Apr 2006 20:58:24 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=582#comment-1369 25.7 degrees. Unbelievable. I can't process it. We're down here wiping our brow and sipping iced tea. It's hovering around 90. 25.7 degrees. Unbelievable. I can’t process it. We’re down here wiping our brow and sipping iced tea. It’s hovering around 90.

]]> By: jenn http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/04/29/the-iceman-cometh/comment-page-1/#comment-1368 jenn Sun, 30 Apr 2006 16:22:28 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=582#comment-1368 We had a frost come through one night a week ago, and hit pretty hard. I wasn't watching, so I didn't know it had happened until I went out and saw the damage. The canna lilies I put out early are probably going to recover, but I was ready to write them off. They were an impulse buy and while I have overwintered them successfully twice, they haven't bloomed for me yet... What made me sad was the damage to the anemone japonicas. Sigh. These are late to arrive in spring, but still show up about 2-3 weeks before our frost date. I'm thinking about rigging spring row cover to put over them when I pull the mulch, and to uncover when we hit our last predicted frost date. A bit of pampering for a favored flower. Really like these guys. Startled me to see the damage. I thought they were a bit tougher than that! We had a frost come through one night a week ago, and hit pretty hard. I wasn’t watching, so I didn’t know it had happened until I went out and saw the damage. The canna lilies I put out early are probably going to recover, but I was ready to write them off. They were an impulse buy and while I have overwintered them successfully twice, they haven’t bloomed for me yet…

What made me sad was the damage to the anemone japonicas. Sigh. These are late to arrive in spring, but still show up about 2-3 weeks before our frost date. I’m thinking about rigging spring row cover to put over them when I pull the mulch, and to uncover when we hit our last predicted frost date. A bit of pampering for a favored flower. Really like these guys. Startled me to see the damage. I thought they were a bit tougher than that!

]]> By: Hanna in Cleveland http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/04/29/the-iceman-cometh/comment-page-1/#comment-1365 Hanna in Cleveland Sun, 30 Apr 2006 14:59:46 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=582#comment-1365 I try to overwinter rosemary in my basement overwintering room and it never makes it. I think it is too damp. Maybe I will try rosemary cuttings in the garage this next winter, which would be much like a cool sunroom. I try to overwinter rosemary in my basement overwintering room and it never makes it. I think it is too damp. Maybe I will try rosemary cuttings in the garage this next winter, which would be much like a cool sunroom.

]]> By: Sandy http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2006/04/29/the-iceman-cometh/comment-page-1/#comment-1360 Sandy Sat, 29 Apr 2006 23:46:52 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/?p=582#comment-1360 We have an upper level deck and I recently put out Rosemary and other marginal plants underneath on the lower patio. So far, I've been able to get the rosemary, artemesias and pelargoniums (geraniums) to weather the few frosts we've had here on the northern coast of Maine. I've even overwintered a Purple Wave Petunia! That's not to say we won't have a real "whopper" before our last frost free date of late May. But one can dream, can't one? I just got my order from White Flower Farm. The "Black Lace Elderberry" arrived in good condition, but looks a bit droopy. I watered it well, but think I will take a snip and see if I can get it to root. Any advice out there? We have an upper level deck and I recently put out Rosemary and other marginal plants underneath on the lower patio. So far, I’ve been able to get the rosemary, artemesias and pelargoniums (geraniums) to weather the few frosts we’ve had here on the northern coast of Maine. I’ve even overwintered a Purple Wave Petunia! That’s not to say we won’t have a real “whopper” before our last frost free date of late May. But one can dream, can’t one?

I just got my order from White Flower Farm. The “Black Lace Elderberry” arrived in good condition, but looks a bit droopy. I watered it well, but think I will take a snip and see if I can get it to root. Any advice out there?

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