Widespread frost Thursday to Saturday
In collaboration with AWIS Weather ServicesDear all,
Widespread frost conditions are expected this Thursday (today) to Saturday. These conditions will warrant protection measures. Using row covers OR overhead irrigation will be sufficient. In the southern part of Eastern NC, please check your minimum temperatures and dew point. You might not need to protect.
For the days after Saturday, frost night occurrence will be scattered. Some locations will experience frost conditions, while others won't.
Especially during this period, it is crucial to watch your local weather forecast very closely.
Covering plants with row-cover for an extended period of time?
I have been asked several times if just keeping plants covered for an extended period (longer than 3 days) of time is advisable. Here my answer:If you already have a significant amount of blossoms on your plants, covering those plants for an extended period of time will hinder pollination and increase the risk of
Botrytis grey-mold as well. This can have a detrimental impact on fruit quality and shape later on.
We rather recommend - if you have the labor and time available - to uncover between frost nights to ensure pollination and aeration of the field.
Temperature Maps
Figure 1: Predicted minimum Temperatures for the region, starting Friday morning to Sunday.
Regional Forecasts:
North Carolina:
