Frost

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickrock

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 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!!!!

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

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!

10-17-2015, 10:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rickrock Location: I live in Loretto, Ky Name: Rick Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 1 BananaBucks : 3,375 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 6 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Frost 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

10-17-2015, 11:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mark Dragt Location: Rochester,Wa Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 823 BananaBucks : 46,381 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,357 Times Was Thanked 1,718 Times in 635 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 332 Times	Re: Frost 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. __________________ Mark's Banana Forest Paradise

10-17-2015, 12:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 22,278 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,023 Times Was Thanked 2,962 Times in 1,115 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,000 Times	Re: Frost 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. Last edited by crazy banana : 10-17-2015 at 09:44 PM.

10-17-2015, 03:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,878 BananaBucks : 3,833 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,914 Times Was Thanked 11,780 Times in 4,912 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,957 Times	Re: Frost Welcome to Jungle!!!! 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 __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 10-18-2015 at 05:20 AM.

10-17-2015, 09:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
JP Location: Trois-Rivières, Québec Find me on the map! Zone: 4 Name: JP Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,227 BananaBucks : 157,469 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,969 Times Was Thanked 1,694 Times in 817 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 304 Times	Re: Frost What are the varieties?

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11-14-2015, 08:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b, pushing 9a Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,119 BananaBucks : 182,383 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,218 Times Was Thanked 1,976 Times in 1,145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,049 Times	Re: Frost Hi Rick- Welcome to the Banana Express! __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

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