SPOKANE, Wash. -- A very chilly start to the week in the Inland Northwest Spokane left plant lovers with a headache. We're still technically in summer, but in several areas, the temperatures are hovering around freezing.
KREM 2 News talked with Stanek's Nursery to see what you can do to preserve your plants. We were told weather like this is fatal to cucumber and zucchini plants. Tomatoes will stop producing new fruit once we're consistently below the 40 degree mark.
"Basil, things like that are going to have some issues," said Michael Loundagin. "You can keep those warm by putting a jug of water next to them during the day. They'll absorb heat and at night, give you a couple extra degrees."
That little trick can sometimes add up to five degrees. Stanek's staff also recommends putting a bed sheet or ever newspaper on your most sensitive plants overnight.
Stanek's says the danger zone for the majority of plants and flowers is 35 degrees. Once we dip to 28 degrees, that's a killing frost and little survives after that.
