Protect your young transplants

If you ambitiously got your tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or basil transplanted during this recent warm spell, congratulations, but you may want to give them some protection from the cold spell forecast for Saturday, Sunday, & Monday nights.  Temperatures in the low 40s and upper 30s probably won’t kill those plants but it can cause a serious set back and damage to exposed young leaves.  Since plants grow mostly at night and chilly night temperatures (below 45F) can cause tissue damage that can take days to recover from. 

I suggest two important things to reduce cold injury:  1) Water all outside young plants well so they are fully hydrated and can resist the cold stress.    2) Cover your heat-loving plants, especially the semi-tropical plants like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, sweet potatoes, artichokes, and basil.  Covers can be agricultural row cover (Agribon), clear polyethylene plastic, or even bed sheets.  Remember to open or remove the covers for the daytime so they don’t overheat your plants.

To prevent abrasion or physical damage to the young plants from the covers be sure to support your covers with 1/2 inch PVC, wooden frames, or wire supports.  Strong winds are also forecast in some areas so be sure your covers are well anchored. Agribon row cover and ground staples are available at many garden centers, online, and at Fenn Farmstead & Gardens in Mt. Holly.