Can I bring out cold sensitive plants before the last frost date?

*Dearly Depotted* · 02-27-2021, 10:58 AM

Now since I live in Northeastern Ohio my last frost date is May 8th. My question is can I bring out the cold sensitive plants before that date? What would happen if it it freezes over night? Would they die? Could I at least uncover my basjoos & mekongs before then? Thanks in advance for any help!

subsonicdrone · 02-27-2021, 12:50 PM

i dont bring mine out until may 24th
i am a bit further north though

edwmax · 02-27-2021, 02:36 PM

You could bring them out as long as the temps are above 40 deg F. I doubt they would break dormancy until the temps stay above 50 -60 deg F though. Should there be a light freeze or heavy frost, any green leaves would likely die back except the Basjoo. The Basjoo is known to withstand temps down to about 26-28 degs F (??) without the leaves dying. I don't know about the Mekong though. .... As long as the corm does not freeze, it will regrow a new pstem.

Since your plants are already inside, I would not move them out until your last frost date. ... What is the long range forecast for your area?

A temporary/emergency poly tunnel could be helpful, too, far any unexpected freeze or frost. Just pull the poly over the plants and weight the edge down with bricks and remove when the danger of frost is gone.

*Dearly Depotted* · 02-27-2021, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwmax

You could bring them out as long as the temps are above 40 deg F. I doubt they would break dormancy until the temps stay above 50 -60 deg F though. Should there be a light freeze or heavy frost, any green leaves would likely die back except the Basjoo. The Basjoo is known to withstand temps down to about 26-28 degs F (??) without the leaves dying. I don't know about the Mekong though. .... As long as the corm does not freeze, it will regrow a new pstem.

Since your plants are already inside, I would not move them out until your last frost date. ... What is the long range forecast for your area?

A temporary/emergency poly tunnel could be helpful, too, far any unexpected freeze or frost. Just pull the poly over the plants and weight the edge down with bricks and remove when the danger of frost is gone.

You know that’s kind of what I figured. I do usually wait until the last frost date. However, I thought I’d try to do it just a little earlier this year. You know maybe at the end of April. It’s okay. You certainly did make some great points about waiting to both bring the plants outside and also about leaving the others covered until after the last frost has passed! Yeah so it won’t be so bad to wait after May 8th.

I just looked up the long range forecast for Niles now. It states...

April and May will have near-normal temperatures, on average, with precipitation a bit above normal in the east and below normal in the west. Summer will be warmer and rainier than normal in the east but cooler and drier in the west. The hottest periods will be in early June, from late June to early July, and in mid-August. September and October will be cooler than normal, with precipitation a bit above normal in the east and below normal in the west.

I hope you don’t mind I just copied and pasted it right form the site itself! Good idea about the poly tunnel as well!

As always you’re one of the best! So thanks for all the kind replies & helpful tips/tricks of the trade!

*Dearly Depotted* · 02-27-2021, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subsonicdrone

i dont bring mine out until may 24th
i am a bit further north though

Wow! So it looks like I shouldn’t be complaining about the 8th then!

Thanks so much for your kind reply! I truly appreciate it!

Iowa · 02-28-2021, 04:33 AM

I'm at May 15 and usually have to wait for it. Just watch your weather forecast, and hope that they are correct.

02-27-2021, 10:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dearly Depotted Find me on the map! Zone: 6A Name: Mary Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 646 BananaBucks : 97,514 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 607 Times Was Thanked 442 Times in 301 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Can I bring out cold sensitive plants before the last frost date? Now since I live in Northeastern Ohio my last frost date is May 8th. My question is can I bring out the cold sensitive plants before that date? What would happen if it it freezes over night? Would they die? Could I at least uncover my basjoos & mekongs before then? Thanks in advance for any help! __________________ It’s long been a dream of mine to be able to grow real bananas off my own plants! So, please wish me luck on my quest to fulfill that dream! Last edited by Dearly Depotted* : 02-27-2021 at 11:02 AM.*

02-27-2021, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
subsonicdrone Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,303 BananaBucks : 14,111 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,651 Times Was Thanked 1,851 Times in 637 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Can I bring out cold sensitive plants before the last frost date? i dont bring mine out until may 24th i am a bit further north though

02-27-2021, 02:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
edwmax Location: Cairo, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 2,891 BananaBucks : 88,631 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,741 Times Was Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,095 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 414 Times	Re: Can I bring out cold sensitive plants before the last frost date? You could bring them out as long as the temps are above 40 deg F. I doubt they would break dormancy until the temps stay above 50 -60 deg F though. Should there be a light freeze or heavy frost, any green leaves would likely die back except the Basjoo. The Basjoo is known to withstand temps down to about 26-28 degs F (??) without the leaves dying. I don't know about the Mekong though. .... As long as the corm does not freeze, it will regrow a new pstem. Since your plants are already inside, I would not move them out until your last frost date. ... What is the long range forecast for your area? A temporary/emergency poly tunnel could be helpful, too, far any unexpected freeze or frost. Just pull the poly over the plants and weight the edge down with bricks and remove when the danger of frost is gone. __________________ Last edited by edwmax : 02-27-2021 at 02:39 PM.

02-28-2021, 04:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
Iowa Location: Burlington,Iowa Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Mike Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 703 BananaBucks : 43,424 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 571 Times Was Thanked 1,017 Times in 381 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 597 Times	Re: Can I bring out cold sensitive plants before the last frost date? I'm at May 15 and usually have to wait for it. Just watch your weather forecast, and hope that they are correct. __________________ Growing Musa Orinoco since 1993 - Added 2018-Basjoo, Zebrina' Rojo, Ensete Red Abyssinian - Added 2019-Goldfinger - Added 2020-Kokopo (Short Cycle), Double (Mahoi), Highgate, Super Dwarf Cavendish - Added 2021-Pisang Ceylon(Mysore), Musa Margarita, Ensete Ventricosum - Added 2023 - Siam Ruby

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