North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Dan Nave <nave1@comcast.net>]

Many people who know about it are using a product called KDL.

Dan

<http://www.agro-k.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68:kdl-frost&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=18>

"Growers have found that fruit and vine crops can gain a few degrees of protection when Potassium 
Dextro-Lac (KDL) is applied a few days or even hours ahead of the frost event. It's an unusual 
approach for when the frosts are damaging but not extreme."

From the 2013 Apricot Interest Group Newsletter:

"Jim Birkholz, an orchardist in Taylors Falls, MN, gave a presentation on the use of KDL in his 
apple orchard.

Jim had temperatures in the 70s and 80s in his orchard in March, and then 15ºF in April below the 
bloom line (the lower branches of his apple trees). Jim sprayed his orchard with KDL a few days 
before the April 10- 11 freeze event and had 90% of a normal crop.

He was the only apple grower at the meeting with close to a normal crop. It appears that his apple 
trees were not far from blooming when this happened."

Agro-K Corp. has cautioned, however, that the efficacy of KDL in preventing frost damage is 
dependent upon the depth and duration of the frost as well as upon the bloom stage of the tree.

Field researchers at Agro-K found that there was more bee activity on peach blossoms in Michigan 
after the application of KDL. Might this be because of the higher sugar content induced in the 
blossoms?

www.agro-k.com (800)-328-2418------




Jim Birkholz, an orchardist in Taylors Falls, MN, gave a presentation on the use of KDL in his apple 
orchard.

Jim had temperatures in the 70s and 80s in his orchard in March, and then 15ºF in April below the 
bloom line (the lower branches of his apple trees). Jim sprayed his orchard with KDL a few days 
before the April 10- 11 freeze event and had 90% of a normal crop.

He was the only apple grower at the meeting with close to a normal crop. It appears that his apple 
trees were not far from blooming when this happened.

Agro-K Corp. has cautioned, however, that the efficacy of KDL in preventing frost damage is 
dependent upon the depth and duration of the frost as well as upon the bloom stage of the tree.

Field researchers at Agro-K found that there was more bee activity on peach blossoms in Michigan 
after the application of KDL. Might this be because of the higher sugar content induced in the 
blossoms?

www.agro-k.com (800)-328-2418------




On 5/12/2013 9:54 AM, Elizabeth Hilborn wrote:
> Please share you favorite methods to protect fruits.
>
> Warnings already posted for central and north eastern US:
> http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=usa&wwa=frost%20advisory
>
> Betsy Hilborn
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