North Texas Vegetable Gardeners Forum

General => Show Us Your Garden => Topic started by: GloriaG on November 29, 2011, 10:04:19 AM

Title: Questions about covering winter veggies
Post by: GloriaG on November 29, 2011, 10:04:19 AM

I am using raised beds with plastic covered hoop houses to grow my winter vegetable garden.  The plastic is 6-mil and I've sewn-in zippers for easy access.

Right now I have - peas, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, swiss chard, celery, spinach and a few other greens. I also have some beautiful lush tomato plants with lots of slowly ripening tomatoes. (Picked the last of the eggplant and peppers yesterday.)

Sunday night it got very cold and I carefully covered everything, but I'm sure I didn't open fast enough Monday morning and burned some of the tomato leaves.  I also lost one broccoli plant that got WAY too hot.

My question is - Is there a "best temperature" to open the covers?  ??? I have thermometers in some of the beds so I can tell the inside temp.

Thanks for your help.
Gloria

Title: Re: Questions about covering winter veggies
Post by: Brian Gallimore on November 29, 2011, 12:51:10 PM

I have no experience with this, but it looks like the automatic greenhouse vents operate in the 60 to 75 deg F range.

Title: Re: Questions about covering winter veggies
Post by: GloriaG on November 29, 2011, 05:43:20 PM

Thanks Brian,

I will keep my eye on the inside temperatures and make sure to vent when they reach 60 to 70 deg F.

BTW - How do I post a picture?

Title: Re: Questions about covering winter veggies
Post by: Brian Gallimore on November 29, 2011, 11:53:20 PM

Quote from: GloriaG on November 29, 2011, 05:43:20 PM

How do I post a picture?

see if this helps:  http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/forum/index.php?topic=408.0

Title: Re: Questions about covering winter veggies
Post by: GloriaG on November 30, 2011, 11:37:35 AM

Thanks Brian,

I just thought you might like to see the boxes with their covers.
The small "Conestoga" type have carrots, peas, onions, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower.
The tall square one is my tomato cover.
Thanks for all your help,
Gloria

(http://[img])[/img]

Title: Re: Questions about covering winter veggies
Post by: Brian Gallimore on November 30, 2011, 10:40:55 PM

those look great!  thanks for sharing the pictures

you are making great use out of the space too

Title: Re: Questions about covering winter veggies
Post by: GloriaG on December 22, 2011, 06:43:11 PM

I have to say I'm excited!
It takes some work to cover/uncover plants daily, but the rewards are well worth it. Thanks for all your help.
Gloria

(http://)

Title: Re: Questions about covering winter veggies
Post by: cowgirl8 on February 10, 2012, 06:37:55 AM

I put some of my container tomatoes in the greenhouse..they've pooped out now though. But all the other veggies you mentioned can take freezing weather once they are established beyond sprouts.