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frost..."dangerously low temps"

Katherine mentioned this vis a vis mangos (which I am thrilled beyond
belief to hear I might be able to grow here in the Bay Area).  And I've
been wondering about plant protection and etc.

A few days ago, a local friend mentioned to me that it was going to frost
that night (temps 29-31 ish).  So I closed the doors to my greenhouse and
covered my potted plants (including a grapefruit) on the front porch with
some sheer curtains.  I've been doing this every night since, adding some
plastic bags when it felt colder.

Some of the plants are showing frost damage.  The dill and cilentro are
nearly gone and the grapefruit and some others are getting yellow leaves or
brownish marks on the leaves.  Some, like the bay laurel have no damage
desptie not being covered.  The plants in the ground (including
strawberries planted last month) seem fine (cept for the fushias and
azaleas perhaps).  The greenhouse orchids and etc are all fine too.

You see, I've only lived in San Diego, where there was never frost (okay,
occainsional freak ones), and Boston, where you got hard frost for several
months out of the year and you planned for it by growing hardy plants or
taking plants inside all winter.  I'm not used to the no hard frosts but a
couple nights of light frosts yearly thing.

Last night felt the most bitter cold of all, yet on the news it said it was
in the 40's and wouldn't go any lower all night.  I don't get a paper and
they generally don't give enough details anyway.  The TV news has few
details.  I just don't have an easy way to figure this out.  I just always
assumed there'd be no frosts to contend with.

Btw, the plants are on my front porch cause there isn't room in the house
or the greenhouse and I wanted them close enough to water and care for
daily.  I could bring them in if I had to but would rather not subject them
to constant moving (or indoor conditions for some of them).

What is a dangerously low temp?  I know it depends on the plant.  But when
do I need to worry and how do I find out when to worry?  Even for medit
plants, I assume I can't ignore the temps, yes? especially for the potted
ones.

Thanks,
Cyndi
_______________________________________________________________________________
Oakland, California            Zone 9 USDA; Zone 16 Sunset Western Garden Guide
Disabled, chemically sensitive, wheelchair user          Organic Gardening only
_______________________________________________________________________________
"There's nothing wrong with me.  Maybe there's                     Cyndi Norman
something wrong with the universe." (ST:TNG)                   cnorman@best.com
__________________________________________________ http://www.best.com/~cnorman
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