Planting out....Is it safe out there ?

[newbieveggie]

Good morning all. I have got a sunlounge bursting with stuff to plant out so I was wondering if its ok to now. The plants I am talking about are runner beans, courgettes, peas, mange tout, artichokes and pumpkins. Shall I cover therm with cloches ? I don't want my babies freezing or being eaten alive.

[womble]

I'd be interested to know what the temps are at night in the channel islands atm? That's what it comes down to and you surely aren't telling me as a gardener you don't have a thermometer and check the temp ever 5 minutes like you should be doing?

[newbieveggie]

Oooh I really wanted one of the digital ones for chrimbo but they had sold out (boo hoo)
I live in a valley so we do get pockets of frost, but where I am planting is higher up. Apparently the chap who used to live here many lifetimes ago used to grow the most amazing early spuds ! Night time temp is prob lowest 4 going up to about 7deg I think. Must look on amazon for one of those digital weather stations, I just love those kinda gadgets ! So what do you rec, ok to plant out ??

[Flummery]

The peas should be ok. With those night time temps I wouldn't risk planting the tender stuff out. Check what it says on the packets - always a clue there!

[SarzWix]

Your peas and mangetout will be fine. The beans, courgettes and pumpkins I'd hang on as long as you possibly can, but you could start hardening them off - putting them out in the day and back in at night, which will probably slow their growth down a little and get them ready for the big bad world

[Oleander]

Hi

In Jersey temps have been at least 7 c everynight for a couple of weeks. Last night was 9 c, but Guernsey is just that little bit more into the Channel, and temps are often 1 or 2 c lower there. The min/max thermometer in my unheated g/h hasn't fallen below 9c overnight for some time.

I planted out my courgettes yesterday, but I have sawn off 3 litre squash bottles over them, to protect them from the slugs as much as the weather.

Next weekend, my squash will be going out under squash botttles too!

Forecast for the coming week looks brilliant - min. of 17c everyday until next Monday.

Oleander