Monday the overnight low was 24 degrees – 15 degees colder than Sunday’s weather report predicted, and the ground was frozen solid by morning. Hell, I can predict the weather more accurately than that. I was sure that all the baby veg I set out in the garden Saturday and Sunday would be goners, but this morning the temperatures warmed, and son-of-a-gun, all the plants survived in good shape. I guess the plants were smart enough to jack up the levels of their sugar/antifreeze.
The tomatoes in the greenhouse, snuggled under a remay blanket and warmed by a little 100W heater, did just fine. In fact, this morning, a few of the varieties are sprouting their first true leaves. That means that I will be transpanting them all into individual 4″ pots quite soon. Speaking of which, a big shipment of 4″ pots should arrive today via UPS from Nursery Pot Liquidators. I have never done business with these folks before, so I am holding my breath, but so far they seem to be incredibly professional. They are so politically correct it takes my breath away. They employ at-risk youths to recycle, package and sell used plastic nursery pots. How very Oregonian.
Update – The pots arrived March 11. They are excellent – heavy duty and in good condition.