Daily Improvisations

  • Inside the Homestead
    • Sewing
    • crochet and knit
    • Playing House
    • In the Workshop
    • Cooking and Food
    • Helpless Female
  • Out in the Garden
    • In My Greenhouse
    • Gardening in Southwest Idaho
    • Straw Bale Garden Project
  • Out with Animals
    • Chickens
    • Goats
    • Horses
  • Around the Globe
    • Adventures with Wild Greg
    • Chocolate Shops Around the World
    • Life in Taipei
    • About Town
      • My Blogs
  • The DI Store
    • DI Gardener’s Shop
    • How to Build a Backyard Brick Oven From Scratch (Book)
    • Custom designs
  • DI Memberships
    • Log In
    • Sign up to be a DI Sewing Room Insider
    • Dream House Members Area
      • Dream House Eyewitness Login
      • Your Account
      • Dream House Project
    • Become a Dream House Eyewitness!

Watching the Weather for Planting Out Frost Sensitive Plants in Southwest Idaho

May 13, 2013 by Laura Blodgett 2 Comments

who planted all these seedlings!?
who planted all these seedlings!?

Sometimes, watching the weather report feels like a full time job.  Especially in the spring, when I am trying to harden off my seedlings and decide when to plant them permanently out in the garden.  But, on the other hand, I totally appreciate the benefits of modern weather forecasting.  It may be that the long term forecast changes day to day, but it can show trends and help me make planting decisions even without absolute precision.

referring to my <a href="http://dailyimprovisations.com/keeping-my-garden-organized-with-a-portable-garden-chart/" target="_blank">portable garden chart</a>
referring to my portable garden chart
plant cages make a good frame for holding up blankets or towels to keep the frost from damaging young plants
plant cages make a good frame for holding up blankets or towels to keep the frost from damaging young plants

For instance, the average date of the last frost is around the middle of May in southwest Idaho, but no worry about frost is much more certain at the end of May.  However, once we actually get to the beginning of May, there may be a long hot spell predicted that makes it more practical to release those plants from their pots.  When the daytime temperatures are near 80°F for several days in a row, it is hard enough to keep the pots adequately watered, that it makes more sense to plant the seedlings out and watch carefully for late frost.

It is easier to cover or protect plants when they are young, then in the fall when they are so big.  If there are trellises, cages, or stakes that I am going to use for the plants anyway, I get them in place as a potential for hanging blankets or towels.  I have a supply of old blankets that I have collected along the way.  I would expect that some could be gotten for cheap prices at thrift stores or garage sales.  The cut plastic gallon jug or an upside down gallon pot (like what the pots come in from the nursery) makes a good cap for the smallest plants.  They might need to be supplemented with blankets or towels if the night time temperatures are too low.

For any method, don’t forget to take the covers off before the sun warms things up too much.  And don’t forget that even though they are more insulated from the sun when in the ground, they will still need a bit more regular watering the first couple of weeks out there.  I have found that going ahead and planting out a little “early” can sometimes be the best decision and mean less work and plant stress in the long run.  Your plants will thank you.

freshly transplanted 4 inch tall tomato seedling can easily be covered with a plastic milk just that has had the bottom cut off
freshly transplanted 4 inch tall tomato seedling can easily be covered with a plastic milk just that has had the bottom cut off

Filed Under: Gardening in Southwest Idaho, Inside the Homestead Tagged With: southwest Idaho gardening

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don’t fight the weather and environment. Discover how to wield their moods and energy to your own advantage. — Learn to plant the right seeds at the right time. — Your neighbors will be in awe and your taste buds will be delighted!

About me

 

 

Daily Improvisations is a project by Laura Blodgett

If you want to know more about what I’m up to and where to read about it, here is a summary!

Making sure you know that:

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, including affiliate links to amazon.com. See disclosures here.

Contact Me

Contact Me
First

All pictures and content including the name and logo “Daily Improvisations” are Copyright (c)  by Laura Blodgett, unless otherwise noted.

Tags

animals Backyard Oven backyard weeds book reviews Chef Betharoni chickens Cori Lou Costa Rica crochet and knit decorating even I can do dehydrating fabric stores around the world flowers flowers from seed Gardens Around the Globe helpless female homestead injuries insects interview Maui music organizing poems PVC Pipe Projects questioning the establishment recipes restaurant reviews sew sewing sourdough southwest Idaho gardening sprinklers stock market diaries Taipei Taiwan technology know-how The Best Little Chocolate Shops tools and equipment underground house unimpeded parenting Wild Greg Adventure

Copyright © 2025 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in