My entire basil crop got hit by a surprise frost last month

I was in my apartment in Chicago, and I had six big pots of basil on the railing. The weather app said it would be cool, but not freezing. I woke up and every single leaf was black and limp. It was a total loss. I moved the pots inside near a south facing window, but only two plants showed any new growth after three weeks. Has anyone else dealt with a late season frost like that? What do you do to protect your plants when the forecast is wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

sandralee1mo ago

Wait, you trust the weather app for frost warnings? I always check the actual temperature on my porch with a cheap thermometer. The microclimate by your railing can be way colder than the reported temp. Once it hits 40, I bring my basil in, no question.

jadeg811mo ago

Totally get what you mean about microclimates, @sandralee. My last apartment had this weird wind tunnel between buildings that would absolutely wreck my potted mint. The weather app would say 45, but that corner felt like it was freezing. Ended up moving the plants to a totally different wall and it made a huge difference. Sometimes you just have to learn your own spot's weird tricks.