Late Freeze

[Cassandra]

We are expecting some unseasonably late freezing temperatures this coming week. (I think one night it is expected to get to 31F, the surrounding days will be in high thirties, low forties.

My pear and plum trees already have small fruits on them.

Are the fruits in danger? What can I do to protect them? They are small trees and it is not out of the question that I could throw a sheet over them or something.

Thanks.
Cassandra

 

[sparks]

What zone are you in? I have heard of people turning sprinklers on them. The do that on fruit trees in florida too. It coats the fruit and actually protects them. We also do that in our northern gardens.

 

[Cassandra]

Mississippi. Zone 8

 

[digitS']

Wow, a mid-April frost in zone 8!!

By all means, cover them or turn the sprinklers on. At 31F, it shouldn't take much to avoid frost damage.

Best of Luck!

Steve

 

[ozark hen]

We are in the midst of snow flurries here...southwest Missouri...right now and had some yesterday...mid to low thirties since Friday but tonight it is suppose to get down into the low 20's I have been praying that tonight will not get that low or if it does not for very long as so far we are ok. I really think you should be ok for one night as long it doesn't stay at that temp for very long? We have had thirties and low forties during the daytime. I am really holding my breath here. I am sure there are others who are not so lucky. Last year we had a very late hard freeze and it ruined everything for the year and took out a lot of fruit trees/berry bushes. Good luck to you.

 

[Cassandra]

I really think you should be ok for one night as long it doesn't stay at that temp for very long?

The weather is making a real pest of itself, isn't it? But it is my thinking, too that it probably won't get THAT cold. It seems our weather forecasters usually err on the low side. And if it does get that low, it will only be for a couple of hours in the wees of the morning. This is just my experience with our cold snaps here. I will be surprised if it is lower than 40 when I get in the car on my way to work at seven the following morning.

Of course, I could be wrong. A couple of months ago, the forecast predicted snow flurries. I went to bed thinking there was no way on earth we were going to get any snow. But the next morning, I got up to an inch of snow on the ground and it was falling down in sheets. First time I've seen any snow to stick in fourteen years.

Cassandra

 

[ozark hen]

so true on the weathermen. Awhile back they predicted we would get 12-14 inches and it missed us totally. I can only hope they miss one also. I just looked at weatherbug and it says in the low twenties tonight and Monday night. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and ourselves!

 

[GwenFarms]

We are in the same boat here in SC tuesday night and I'm going with the sprinklers on. I might cover my really tender bean plants if they are up by then, but everything else is getting wet.

 

[hcammack2]

it is getting cold tonight and tommarow on the entire east cost My uncle said today there where flurries in upstate N.Y. It is supposed to be pretty cold but above freezing over night here in MD

 

[GwenFarms]

Its starting to sound as if we are going to have two nights of possible frosts. I'm starting to worry a little more. I can cover, or wet my tomato and pepper plants pretty easily, but I have six cubes of corn that is quite a large area. Do you all think I should cover it. A neighbor told me not to bother that a light frost wouldn't hurt it, but the plants just started popping up Friday. What do ya think?