Potassium sprays such as potassium
dextrolactate applied a day or so before the expected frost will give
several degrees of protection. Since the effect only lasts two days at the
most it doesn't work on massive multi-day freezes.
Bob Purvis, the Nafex apricot consultant,
swears by it. Here's one source that mentions use of KDL as part of a spray
program for peaches. I don't know about peer-reviewed research into the
effectiveness.
Steve Herje, Lone Rock, WI USDA zone
3-4
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 11:27
AM
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Basic Frost
Protection Questions
Freeze damage is ususally caused by ice crystals bursting cells or doing
other damage. I'm just wondering here if anyone knows of any serious
research regarding absorbable sprays or soil amendements that could be taken
up by plants to increase plant cell resistance to freeze damage?
John
>
I hope you all will excuse the bonehead questions about frost
protection.
Heh, heh. You obviously haven't been here long enough
to see all of MY boneheaded questions! But this group is very patient
and very helpful. If they haven't thrown me out yet, I don't think you
have anything to worry about.
Regarding frost protection, we had
a long discussion about that last spring. I haven't been here too long,
but I suspect that it probably comes up every year. It is, after all, a
perennial bane. (You might try checking the archives.)
What I got
from our discussion is that there are a variety of tactics that might or
might not help, depending on how many plants you must protect and -
especially - how cold it gets. If you only need a degree or two of
protection, something as simple as running a sprinkler all night can
sometimes help. On the other hand, sometimes nothing will do any good.
Last spring, after a very warm March, temps here dropped way below
freezing for five nights in a row (lowest was 17°). Nothing I did - and
probably nothing I could do - made the slightest difference.
I'm just
a newbie, but in your case, I'd suggest just using TWO layers of frost
cloth, rather than pay to have frames built. One layer doesn't do much,
especially if it's touching the plant, but two will have some air
between them for insulation. If you think you need more than that, run
an extension cord out to it and put an incandescent light bulb under the
cloths. Or you can use Xmas tree lights, jugs of water, or anything that
will provide just a little heat.
Yes, you'll have to take these off
between frosts. I don't know exactly what you're trying to do. In my
case, it would be a matter of delaying the first fall frost a bit (for
vegetables) or protecting early growth from a late freeze. If you expect
to do this all winter, it would be a LOT of work, and maybe you should
think about what you're planting. Or maybe some kind of semi-permanent
greenhouse structures would make more sense.
One other thing: for
me, here in Nebraska, the wind is usually a factor. We tend to get
colder on still nights, but it can still be windy during the day, which
makes it extremely difficult to erect cloth shelters. And last April,
during our cold snap, the wind howled all day and all night. Not only
did it blow off almost everything I tried to use, but I don't suppose
the 'two-layers of cloth' idea would work as well when the wind is
whipping things around. Things are probably different for you, but I
thought I'd mention it. I'm almost to the point that I'm just going to
accept whatever the weather does and try to live with it. But if you
just need to get past a night or two of cold weather, it might be worth
it.
To repeat, though, I'm just a newbie at all this, not at all an
expert. I am learning - this list has been extremely helpful - but I
have a long way to go. Still, if I misled you about anything, I'm sure
someone more experienced will correct me.
Good
luck,
Bill Lincoln, NE (zone 5)
-- Blind faith can
justify anything. In a man believes in a different god, or even if he
uses a different ritual for worshipping the same god, blind faith can
decree that he should die - on the cross, at the stake, skewered on a
Crusader's sword, shot in a Beirut street, or blown up in a bar in
Belfast. - Richard
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