tedln wrote:Stella, It would probably work, but I've never tried it wet. I know citrus growers in Florida spray their trees and fruit with water when a hard freeze is starting. It seems the ice coating on the trees and fruit prevents damage. I don't know how it works, but it does.
Ted
This system of fruit protection works well Ted but there are some big snags.
We use this method on our orchards and there are a few basic things you have to do.
First is the water must be applied continually all the time the temp is below freezing point.
This must be a steady spray of at least a rate of an 8th of an inch per hour.
It works by the water giving up its latent heat as it freezes. This keeps the new ice that is forming at a constant zero temperature...as fruit is seldom damaged until the temp reaches -2c the bud will tolerate this.
The whole tree becomes incased in ice and is a beautiful sight in the morning.
It is essencial that the spray is constant....any break will allow the temp to drop drastically and will cause more damage than ever.
If you are protecting a supported crop be aware of the weight of the forming ice.
We made the mistake of trying to protect a rasp plantation one year.
The weight of the ice on the wire support structure brought the whole darn lot down.
It does use a huge quantity of water. On an all night run we use over 1 million gallons over 40 acres.
Essential then that the drainage is in good order or you finish with a bog.
Would be interesting to see it tried in a garden ...but I haven't had the nerve to risk my veg on it yet.