Here is your New Port Richey urban farming freeze report, complements of FarmNet’s Weekly Urban Farm Report.
This morning (2/3), until 8:00 a.m., may bring a freeze to the gardens of New Port Richey.
The temperature is still higher than yesterday at all stations. The lack of wind accelerates radiational cooling and increases the possibility of a deeper, longer freeze – the air feels warmers.
Freeze Report: Current readings 2/3/26 (3:30 a.m.) 28/34 to 38 degrees
- Freeze is still possible in New Port Richey gardens: Grand Gardens, Theo’s Garden, East Madison Gardens, Marcie’s Garden, Clark Gardens.
- Temperature readings in the urban areas with gardens in the network are have stabilized, with no change in the past 1 ½ hours. Only one site (EMG Gardens) is below freezing now.
NOTE 1: Predawn morning today (Monday, 2/3) will be very cold, but probably a warmer than yesterday – the morning of the hard freeze. We are in a freeze watch now, and temperatures are near freezing – but stabalizing.
NOTE 2: After sunup, temperatures will begin to moderate noticeably.
NOTE 3: In our main gardens, it is warmer now (3:30 a.m.) than it was at midnight and 1:00 a.m. Only by about one or two degrees, but the feeling of the air on skin and in nostrils and lungs has a distinctly warmer sense than an hour ago. There has been no change since 2:00 p.m.
EMG 28 (new meter)/34 old meter
Homestead 38
Le Clare official station 35
North River official station 35
South and Central Coastal Pasco and all New Port Richey sites have stabilized in mid-30s. Only EMG is below..
The two official stations are the closest to the major gardens in the New Port Richey. Both are on the river and run warmer than the garden sites.
The new EMG reading is still below freezing.
NOTE 4: The harder freeze of yesterday injured many of our tomatoes. About 80% of the tomato colony was injured – many fatally. It will take a few days to see how many perished and how many have chance of recovery. Then triage begins.
NOTE 4A: Young plants in the new lateral bed on the west side of the home had no damage at all. Several under the tree canopy in the Homestead Garden had little or no injury.
NOTE 5: On three previous freezes this winter, we had little injury to the tomatoes at EMG. Yesterday, we are not so fortunate. None of the previous freezes resulted in significant damage to our tomatoes. All were light freezes, not getting below upper 20s, and the freezing mark was not reached until late in the predawn morning. NOTE 5A: Yesterday’s freeze was different. It was stronger, deeper, less friendly, and windless – and the major injuries indicate the life-taking power of the polar cold.
Freeze Report from FarmNet’s Weekly Urban Farm Report
From: Dell deChant <ddechant@tampabay.rr.com>
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Subject: FW: Freeze Report: Current readings 2/3/26 (2:00 a.m.)
February 3, 2026
Here is your New Port Richey urban farming freeze report, complements of FarmNet’s Weekly Urban Farm Report.
This morning (2/3), until 8:00 a.m., will possibly bring a freeze in the gardens of New Port Richey.
The temperature is a bit higher than yesterday at all stations, but still very cold, and below freezing at some locations. The lack of wind accelerates radiational cooling and increases the possibility of a deeper, longer freeze.
Freeze Report: Current readings 2/3/26 (2:00 a.m.) 28/34 to 38 degrees
- Freeze is possible in New Port Richey gardens: Grand Gardens, Theo’s Garden, East Madison Gardens, Marcie’s Garden, Clark Gardens.
- Temperature readings in the urban areas with gardens in the network are nearing freezing, with one (EMG Gardens), well below freezing now.
NOTE 1: Predawn morning today (Monday, 2/3) will be very cold, but probably a bit warmer than yesterday – the morning of the hard freeze. We are in a freeze watch now, and temperatures are near freezing.
NOTE 2: After sunup, temperatures will begin to moderate noticeably.
NOTE 3: In our main gardens, it is warmer now (2:00 a.m.) than it was at midnight and 1:00 a.m. Only by about one or two degrees, but the feeling of the air on skin and in nostrils and lungs has a distinctly warmer sense than an hour ago.
EMG 28 (new meter)/34 old meter
Homestead 38
Le Clare official station 35
North River official station 35
South and Central Coastal Pasco and all New Port Richey sites are now near freezing but few are at or below..
The two official stations are the closest to the major gardens in the New Port Richey. Both are on the river and run warmer than the garden sites.
The new EMG reading is below freezing, but a degree higher than an hour ago.
NOTE 4: The harder freeze of yesterday injured many of our tomatoes. About 80% of the tomato colony was injured – many fatally. It will take a few days to see how many perished and how many have chance of recovery. Then triage begins. NOTE 4A: Young plants in the new lateral bed on the west side of the home had no damage at all. Several under the tree canopy in the Homestead garden had very little injury.
NOTE 5: On three previous occasions this winter, we recorded below freezing temperatures at EMG with little injury to the tomatoes. Yesterday, we are not so fortunate. None of the previous freezes resulted in significant damage to our tomatoes. All were light freezes, not getting below upper 20s, and the freezing mark was not reached until late in the predawn morning. Yesterday’s freeze was different. It was stronger, deeper, less friendly, and windless – and the major injuries indicate the life-taking power of the cold.
Freeze Report from FarmNet’s Weekly Urban Farm Report
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