The current cold spell can be fatal for young plants, a garden expert has said.
Writing in a column for the Sun, Steve Bradley warned that currently new plants are at a "critical stage" in their development.
As a sharp drop in temperature could spoil or kill tender plants, wrapping them in a fleece can help protect vegetation from being damaged by the cold.
"On warmer, sunny days take the fleece off so that plants and compost get warm before you cover them again in the late afternoon to trap in the heat," Mr Bradley advised.
The fleece should be suspended above delicate plants, while more than one layer can be used on very cold nights, he added.
Young or tender plants should also be kept above ground level, he noted, advising gardeners to use the sun to warm plants.
Last week, the Scottish Crop Research Institute announced that it is trying to develop a crop of blackcurrants, which do not require cold weather to grow.
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Posted by Carla Spuri. |