A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2" high.
Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will survive?
The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich

EVP MAN wrote:
A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2" high.
Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will survive?
The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich


Temps in the 28-32 degree range will generally not bother lettuce - it's
consider a "half-hardy" crop.

Tony

In article ,
(EVP MAN) wrote:

A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2" high.
Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will survive?
The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich

I'd think about getting out and misting your plants with water from a
hose about 4:00 AM. Then 5, 6, 7 . This will also let you have outside
water on. I've got tomatoes out.

We are going down to 34-36 and that's what I intend to do. Looks like
2 maybe 3 days then more normal.

Currently gust about 30 MPH or so and oak pollen everywhere like a
storm.

--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
What use one more wake up call?

My wife is having eye surgery tomorrow early in the morning so I won't
have time to mess around much with the lettuce. I'll cover the plants
tonight and hope for the best. One good thing about lettuce, if I do
lose it to the frost, I'll just throw down some more seed and in three
days I'll have lettuce again I'm in central PA and we have been
having high winds also. Looks like around Tuesday or Wednesday things
should be more back to normal for both of us. I wish you luck and hope
you make out well with your tomato plants. I may put mine in later this
week.

Rich

On Sun, 09 May 2010 11:35:12 -0400, Bill who putters
wrote:

In article ,
(EVP MAN) wrote:

A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2" high.
Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will survive?
The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich

I'd think about getting out and misting your plants with water from a
hose about 4:00 AM. Then 5, 6, 7 . This will also let you have outside
water on. I've got tomatoes out.

We are going down to 34-36 and that's what I intend to do. Looks like
2 maybe 3 days then more normal.

Where you live (NJ) it's about 2 weeks too early for sowing tomatoes
directly into the ground... should have planted small pots that could
be moved outdoors during daytime to harden off but brought indoors at
night. I think most everyone in the north east begins planting too
soon, they haven't developed patience... I used to do the same but
after so many years of wasting my effort and resources I've learned to
wait.... it's better to plant late than early... not only does the air
temperature need to be warm, it's even more important for the ground
temperature to be warm. Here in the Catskills it was 36ºF this
morning, the ground is damp and just as cold... way too soon for
tomatoes. Some crops, like beans, peas, cabbage, lettuces, etc. can
be sown now but here the ground is still too wet to till.

In article ,
brooklyn1 wrote:

On Sun, 09 May 2010 11:35:12 -0400, Bill who putters
wrote:

In article ,
(EVP MAN) wrote:

A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2" high.
Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will survive?
The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich

I'd think about getting out and misting your plants with water from a
hose about 4:00 AM. Then 5, 6, 7 . This will also let you have outside
water on. I've got tomatoes out.

We are going down to 34-36 and that's what I intend to do. Looks like
2 maybe 3 days then more normal.

Where you live (NJ) it's about 2 weeks too early for sowing tomatoes
directly into the ground... should have planted small pots that could
be moved outdoors during daytime to harden off but brought indoors at
night. I think most everyone in the north east begins planting too
soon, they haven't developed patience... I used to do the same but
after so many years of wasting my effort and resources I've learned to
wait.... it's better to plant late than early... not only does the air
temperature need to be warm, it's even more important for the ground
temperature to be warm. Here in the Catskills it was 36ºF this
morning, the ground is damp and just as cold... way too soon for
tomatoes. Some crops, like beans, peas, cabbage, lettuces, etc. can
be sown now but here the ground is still too wet to till.

I have a tendency to push the envelope when it comes to plants. Think
micro-climate manipulator. Also my scale is 10 tomato plants. 2 big
ones wife gave me 3 cherry type and of course marglobes. Guess I am
just crazy like the guy over in Swedsboro that has what looks like 10
acres of tomatoes with black plastic but mine have love. Main issue is
basic lack of sun.

Just out transplanting some moon flowers and red morning glories ( For
the hummers!) but each one was placed in a protected niche. In a way my
whole garden is a protected niche with thought and mistaken placements.

--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
What use one more wake up call?

http://www.thesunmagazine.org/ many stars

EVP MAN wrote:
A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2" high.
Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will survive?
The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich

There is every chance of it surviving 29F and it probably will not need
covering. Although we often eat lettuce in warmer months it is actually
easier to grow in cooler conditions.

David

Bill who putters wrote:
In article ,
(EVP MAN) wrote:

A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2"
high. Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will
survive? The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich

I'd think about getting out and misting your plants with water from a
hose about 4:00 AM. Then 5, 6, 7 . This will also let you have
outside water on. I've got tomatoes out.


You are advising sitting up half the night hosing the garden when it is 29F.

It would be much more efficient to hire a crop duster to fly in and spray
the patch hourly, that's what I would do.

David

In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

Bill who putters wrote:
In article ,
(EVP MAN) wrote:

A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2"
high. Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will
survive? The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich

I'd think about getting out and misting your plants with water from a
hose about 4:00 AM. Then 5, 6, 7 . This will also let you have
outside water on. I've got tomatoes out.


You are advising sitting up half the night hosing the garden when it is 29F.

It would be much more efficient to hire a crop duster to fly in and spray
the patch hourly, that's what I would do.

David

No I am suggesting you get up at 4 am and see if a hose needs to be
sprayed.

--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden
What use one more wake up call?

http://www.thesunmagazine.org/ many stars

On Mon, 10 May 2010 08:52:40 +1000, "David Hare-Scott"
wrote:

EVP MAN wrote:
A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As fate
would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze warning for my
area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce is about 1/2" high.
Do you think if I cover it that there may be a chance it will survive?
The next three nights are going to be around 30 F. here.

Rich

There is every chance of it surviving 29F and it probably will not need
covering. Although we often eat lettuce in warmer months it is actually
easier to grow in cooler conditions.

This is very true... in warmer weather lettuce tends to bolt.

David

Bill who putters wrote:
In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

Bill who putters wrote:
In article ,
(EVP MAN) wrote:

A week ago I planted some black seeded simpson leaf lettuce. As
fate would have it, tonight they issued a frost and freeze
warning for my area with temps. getting down to 29 F. My lettuce
is about 1/2" high. Do you think if I cover it that there may be a
chance it will survive? The next three nights are going to be
around 30 F. here.

Rich

I'd think about getting out and misting your plants with water from
a hose about 4:00 AM. Then 5, 6, 7 . This will also let you have
outside water on. I've got tomatoes out.


You are advising sitting up half the night hosing the garden when it
is 29F.

It would be much more efficient to hire a crop duster to fly in and
spray the patch hourly, that's what I would do.

David

No I am suggesting you get up at 4 am and see if a hose needs to be
sprayed.


There is an excellent chance the lettuce will be fine without attention.
There are a dozen ways you could put a temporary shelter over them if you
were really worried. But you want to get up in the freezing cold and spray
them at 4, 5, 6 and 7 AM. I prefer to think that your are pulling my leg
rather than you are a crazy sonambulist.

David

I don't think I'd enjoy staying up from 4 till 7 spraying a 3" x 36"
strip of lettuce. But the crop duster idea sounds like the way to go!
It shouldn't cost much at all especially if he charges by the size of
the plot ...........LOL

Rich

On 2010-05-09, brooklyn1 wrote:

This is very true... in warmer weather lettuce tends to bolt.

Oh so true. One year a warm spell occured and the darn heads I
was just ready to pick were gone. Took off for cooler climes I
bet.
--
Bud