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Rickrock
10-17-2015, 10:41 AM
I have a question we are expected to get our first frost tonight then it is going to warm back up. I have about 20 banana trees and some as tall as 25 foot which would make it impossible to cover could I hook up sprinklers and turn them on to protect my leafs from the frost

Mark Dragt
10-17-2015, 11:46 AM
If the frost is light, it should work. Heavy frost,you would have a mess. I know they use that trick in some apple orchards to protect the flowers from late frosts in the spring. Try it and report back. We all could learn from this.

crazy banana
10-17-2015, 12:27 PM
Welcome to bananas.org
Have used the sprinkler method for frost protection of berry fruits in Europe but never here in California for banana plants.
What varieties are you growing? Basjoo should be just fine.
Try the sprinkler; nothing to loose if you cannot dig up your plant anyways. I would be cautious though that the root and corm zone will not get too saturated. You do not want to loose your entire plants due to root or corm rot.
Keep us all posted and maybe show us some photos on what you are ending up doing.

Richard
10-17-2015, 01:52 PM
I have a question we are expected to get our first frost tonight then it is going to warm back up ...

"Frost" is the formation of fine-grained ice on leaves, metal, etc. It is caused by sublimation (http://water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesublimation.html) and depending on pressure, humidity, and wind can occur at temperatures below 42F.

"Freeze" is just that: sustained air or ground temperature below 32F.

In my experiences, several varieties of bananas will tolerate overnight sustained temperatures above 35F - whether or not frost forms. The plants will go in shock and slow down their growth.

On a silly note, I have Frost here 24/7 - it is my last name.

cincinnana
10-17-2015, 03:33 PM
Welcome to Jungle!!!!:woohoonaner:

This works for me in my yard it might work for others as well short term.

Last night was a light frost ....tonight we will have a hard frost.

I will move my plants close to the house where it is warmer.....if you notice in the morning there is an area around the house which is frost free; use that area to your advantage..

If you have irrigation run it, the water coming out of the sprinkler heads is in the 50 degree range this will keep ground level warmer, even if the air temp is near freezing the water droplets are too big and warm to do harm to your plants.

I have run mine over the years when I have been caught off guard and it does work well.
Locally the nearby apple orchards use the same method with spring frosts.

THIS IS KEY.....the coldest part of the night and when the frost will set the most is the FEW hours before daybreak. Yes, the few hours before daybreak are the coldest part of the night.

So go ahead and run your water ......I would.

Here is a link which explains it in better detail....

Irrigation as a Tool for Frost and Freeze Protection :: Agriculture Crops Farming Papers (http://www.123helpme.com/view.asp?id=31358)

JP
10-17-2015, 09:01 PM
What are the varieties?

Snarkie
11-14-2015, 08:15 AM
Hi Rick-

Welcome to the Banana Express! :nanerwaveytrain: