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Monitoring risk of frost? What do you do ?

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  • Monitoring risk of frost? What do you do ?

    Hi guys, do you just check a news outlet's weather forecast or a specific website?

    Guesswork?

    I'd be interested to know because I was getting the fleece out tonight for the spuds but not sure where to go online for reliable information on frost ?

  • #2
    I still use Met Office forecast for my location, because after a few year's checking they seem the most accurate for me.
    Ashford weather forecast - Met Office
    Rather than use the temperatures shown in the chart, I look at the written bit further down the page for 'This Evening and Tonight' where for today it says
    It will start clear with pleasant evening sunshine. However, after dark it will gradually cloud over from the west, although remaining dry. A rural ground frost forming where it remains clear further southeast. Minimum Temperature 1C.
    That'll be me then
    I know from experience that I will get the lowest temperature they say, some other sites are showing a low temperature of 4C.... quite a difference.

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    • #3
      I use Accuweather or Aemet for our nearest village and then knock off a fair few degrees. Next week, they're due 3 ºC, so we'll be well below zero.

      You don't give your location in your profile, but it can be useful for things like weather and sowing advice. It's not necessary to add it, but you might find it makes a difference to the answers you get to some questions.

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      • #4
        I use "Worldweatheronline" app along with Penellypes thread:
        Last edited by Bigmallly; 19-04-2017, 05:43 PM.
        sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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        • #5
          BBC
          Metcheck
          The Weather Channel
          Watch The Wind
          I monitor the Space Saver & Garden
          I monitor the Brick Shed Grow Station

          Links are set up on my Diary / Blog for home & allotment locations, it's always warmer at home, the Mill Green Allotment then Spencer Road which is the most open and prone to frost, it was frosty this morning at 7:15 where the sun had not reached.
          sigpic
          . .......Man Vs Slug
          Click Here for my Diary and Blog
          Nutters Club Member

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          • #6
            Metcheck.
            But I rely more on my gut feeling about the weather. I've decided that there will be no more frost here and my toms and cukes have been in the GH for a couple of weeks now. I throw some bubblewrap over the seedling toms if it feels cold but that's it. No mollycoddling

            NB Don't do what I do - reach your own decision about your local weather and don't blame me if your seedlings die

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            • #7
              Metcheck for me. Also check Acu weather.

              And when your back stops aching,
              And your hands begin to harden.
              You will find yourself a partner,
              In the glory of the garden.

              Rudyard Kipling.sigpic

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              • #8
                Woah thanks so much crew, great responses.

                I'm in London Snoop, I'll add it in my profile

                I heard someone say London rarely gets hard frost but I'm sure it does get enough to cause damage.

                So checked the MET one first and for London it says lows of 6 degrees :

                London weather forecast - Met Office

                I went up there this evening and fleeced the spuds, stuttgart onions and shallots. These are just emerging and I want to make sure they don't get any issues. Perhaps I shouldn't have bothered though? I read on here that 4 degrees and lower and you need to worry about protection.

                I've a water tank with raddish seeds in that are germinating so I made an effort to fleece that also. It said on the packet to do this.

                I'll make sure to check the other sites as well for comparison.

                Next weed looks bad for low temperatures in London. Tuesday especially ;(

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                • #9
                  The problem with local forecasts is - they're not local enough. My Met Office local monitoring station is about 15 miles away near the coast. I live several hundred feet up on the slopes of a mountain.
                  There can be frost on the hillside above me and fog below but I'll be in the sun.
                  Observe your own plot, where are the shaded bits that the sun doesn't reach until late, where does the early morning sun strike first, which way is south etc. and plan your plot accordingly.

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                  • #10
                    Sometimes I think it's best not to sow too early, keep an eye out for early warm spells that lure you into thinking summer has arrived, wait until the soil has had chance to dry out, and go for your instincts as to what and when to do.
                    I work very hard so please don't expect me to think as well!

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                    • #11
                      I use xcweather both for gardening weather and more importantly for work so use it on an almost daily basis and I find it more reliable than the Met, BBC, etc

                      If you're in London that's covering quite an area. Xcweather lets you search by postcode.

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                      • #12
                        I use metcheck (Metcheck.com - Accurate UK Weather Forecasts with Live Data and so much more...). It has been pretty reliable for my postcode.
                        My gardening blog: In Spades, last update 30th April 2018.
                        Chrysanthemum notes page here.

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                        • #13
                          Okay I seem to be the odd one out. I go by first and last frost date regardless of what the weather forecast says. Then again I don't mollycoddle plants either. The plants that have suffered from the recent hard frost were all outdoor plants, it was only because of the good weather they ended up with soft sappy shoots and promising crops. Never mind there is always next year

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                          • #14
                            Metcheck, Penellype and local knowledge.

                            Even the postcode areas round here are huge...

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                            • #15
                              As well as weather web sites I used to use an app called ColdSnap Frost Alarm which was really good in that it would audibly alert you if the weather was going to be cold, you could set the parameters like weather provider, specify the low temp and the time you wanted the warning. I had it set so that on the way home I could divert and fleece if required. The guy stopped updating so I uninstalled it but having noticed this thread I've just checked and see that it was last updated March 17 so I've installed it again just now. Don't know how it compares now though to how it was.

                              The other thing that I do is to record the actual dates, I only started doing this in 2011 when I had to estimate it but the rest are as occurred, so this is for me in South Leicestershire since then:

                              2011 2nd-3rd week of May
                              2012 16th April- Hard
                              2013 Cold winter- last snow 29&30 March Last frost 16th May
                              2014 19th April Light
                              2015 1st May Light
                              2016 4th May
                              2017 8th April last one so far, I'd be surprised if it's the last..

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