Gardening: Fall slow down question?

[nao57]

So I'm in the mountains. That means, we'll have high temperatures up to in the 80s still right now. BUT, our night low temperatures, especially in the window of 5 AM to 7 AM are when we get a lot of cold already. In that window it gets to 50 degrees easily now, very common. (Is that different in the low lands, eastern areas for your night lows? Curious to hear what you think?)

Because of the night lows, this means that the fall gardening plants start to suffer. They don't like the night lows, especially the vine plants. Is that what you guys are seeing to? And what I'm sort of trying to get data on, is... it looks like the cucumbers take the cold hit first, but the tomatoes seem to be just fine. Squash, cucumbers, and vines seem to be ... almost like melt/rotting from the cold. And is it always in that order, of cucumbers first? I'm curious also how this would work in lowlands where your night temperatures aren't as severe swing shift?

Thanks.

 

[Sally PB]

Usually it takes a temp of about 35-38 ish to make my tender plants show the effects. Due to the topography of my garden, the plants in the low spots can show damage before the rest.

My chard is looking great! The zucchini will tell me if we've had any chilly nights low enough to cause problems.

 

[ChicNmom]

Most of my summer veggies look rough at this time of year no matter the temp changes. I always hate that since I have tomatoes but the cucumbers have fizzled out.

I started early spring veggies inside at the beginning of the month and transferred them outside. Lettuce, cabbage, bok choy and kale.
All doing really well.

I also trimmed back the broccoli and it has bounced back with cooler temps.

 

[nao57]

Most of my summer veggies look rough at this time of year no matter the temp changes. I always hate that since I have tomatoes but the cucumbers have fizzled out.

I started early spring veggies inside at the beginning of the month and transferred them outside. Lettuce, cabbage, bok choy and kale.
All doing really well.

I also trimmed back the broccoli and it has bounced back with cooler temps.

Thank you both very much.

Is some of the vegetables looking rough due to them using their own body nutrients to put in the vegetables? Do they have something like that, or is it only weather?

 

[TooCheep]

Weather is definitely a factor. Obviously the side of the mountain compared to the daylight can make a major difference as well, but you likely can't change that.

Peppers and tomatoes are ruined at first frost, so be sure to harvest if you will have a freeze that night. Not sure about cucumbers. If I know there will be a freeze in a week or so, I pinch off any small veggies to allow the plants to put their energy into the larger ones. Fried green tomatoes are great.

Most of these plants greatly slow any leaf/stem growth late in the season and put their energy into growing their fruits. I never bother with any fertilizer past early September for that reason.