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Re: frost..."dangerously low temps"


>What is a dangerously low temp?  I know it depends on the plant.

As you say, it depends on the plant. I have had some plants die totally the
first night it went below 40oF. Many turn to mush at the slightest bit of
frost.  Some Mediterranean natives like fig, oleander, olive, etc., can
take temperatures into the mid-twenties or even the teens comfortably.

>But when do I need to worry and how do I find out when to worry?

A safe place to start is the Sunset Western Garden Book. If they warn about
cold sensitivity, or say the plant can only be grown in Sunset zone 24, you
will have to protect it here (and will probably lose it in a really bad
winter).

Second is to inspect you garden after each cold night and note the
temperature at which different plants were damaged or totally killed.

>Even for medit plants, I assume I can't ignore the temps, yes? especially
>for the potted ones.

True on both counts. Especially the potted ones, because their roots will
get colder in the pot than they would in the ground.

In deciding what to do on a given night, I watch the weather forecast on
the 10 pm news to get the expected temperature for the "interior vallys" --
places like Napa, Santa Rosa, Livermore. AND I check my outdoor
thermometer: If there are more hours between "now" and daybreak than there
are degrees between the current temperature and 32oF, I know I should cover
things or bring them in.

Katherine Pyle
Berkeley, California, USA
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