Anyone have additional thoughts on reducing / eliminating frost damage?

Our vineyard is at about 2800' here in the Sierra Foothills. April
frosts, soon afer budbreak, are an annual anxiety. Last night was a
cold one, and we've got some notable frost damage this morning.

Tonight looks to be another cold one, probably worse (no wind), so
we're irrigating heavy today, trying to get the soil around the vines
as saturated as possible in an atempt to try and change the soil heat
radiation profile as much as possible.

Anyone use any additional frost protection strategies? Sprinklers and
fans are not possible for us jst now ($).

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Anyone have additional thoughts on reducing /
eliminating frost damage?

Our vineyard is at about 2800' here in the
Sierra Foothills. April frosts, soon afer
budbreak, are an annual anxiety. Last night was
a cold one, and we've got some notable frost
damage this morning.

Tonight looks to be another cold one, probably
worse (no wind), so we're irrigating heavy
today, trying to get the soil around the vines
as saturated as possible in an atempt to try and
change the soil heat radiation profile as much
as possible.

Anyone use any additional frost protection
strategies? Sprinklers and fans are not possible
for us jst now ($).

I live in Central Maryland. Last year I took a
big hit from spring freeze so this year I ordered
a row of covering material from:

groworganic.com
(888) 784-1722

It was a 83 inches by 500 feet and the cost was
about $167.

They claim they sell to a lot of vineyards out
there in California.

I just have a small backyard vineyard of about 110
vines. It could get expensive if you have a lot
under production.

AxisOfBeagles wrote:
Anyone have additional thoughts on reducing / eliminating frost damage?

Our vineyard is at about 2800' here in the Sierra Foothills. April
frosts, soon afer budbreak, are an annual anxiety. Last night was a cold
one, and we've got some notable frost damage this morning.

Tonight looks to be another cold one, probably worse (no wind), so we're
irrigating heavy today, trying to get the soil around the vines as
saturated as possible in an atempt to try and change the soil heat
radiation profile as much as possible.

Anyone use any additional frost protection strategies? Sprinklers and
fans are not possible for us jst now ($).



Would covering the buds with a little 'tent' that doesn't touch the bud
work? If there's no wind, a layer or three of newspaper (folded like
smaller versions of the pirate's hats we made as kids?) might suffice;
otherwise something a little more substantial might be needed. This
would keep frost from settling on the buds, though wouldn't stop direct
freezing of the buds.

Thanks Paul - I'll check this out.

It so happens that I live just up the hill from the HQ of
'groworganic.com' (Peaceful Valley Farm Supplies). I'll look through
their site for sugestions. I know they sell a spray on polymer like
stuff that supposedly prevents transpiration, thereby reducing radiant
heat loss during a frost night.

Does the covering work? I thought about coverings, but it didn't make
sense to my small brain. as best I understand it, frost is the result
of radiant heat loss into sub-freezing air, resulting in frost-bitten
new shoots. does the vine transpire enough heat that the cover can hold
in to prevent the frost freeze? Curious.

Anway, I need to put in a sprinkler system this next season. I'll
problably lose the majority of the primary shoots this year - which
means a less than 50% crop. &*^$@#&*$



On 2008-04-20 13:07:04 -0700, "Paul E. Lehmann" said:

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Anyone have additional thoughts on reducing /
eliminating frost damage?

Our vineyard is at about 2800' here in the
Sierra Foothills. April frosts, soon afer
budbreak, are an annual anxiety. Last night was
a cold one, and we've got some notable frost
damage this morning.

Tonight looks to be another cold one, probably
worse (no wind), so we're irrigating heavy
today, trying to get the soil around the vines
as saturated as possible in an atempt to try and
change the soil heat radiation profile as much
as possible.

Anyone use any additional frost protection
strategies? Sprinklers and fans are not possible
for us jst now ($).

I live in Central Maryland. Last year I took a
big hit from spring freeze so this year I ordered
a row of covering material from:

groworganic.com
(888) 784-1722

It was a 83 inches by 500 feet and the cost was
about $167.

They claim they sell to a lot of vineyards out
there in California.

I just have a small backyard vineyard of about 110
vines. It could get expensive if you have a lot
under production.

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Thanks Paul - I'll check this out.

It so happens that I live just up the hill from
the HQ of 'groworganic.com' (Peaceful Valley
Farm Supplies). I'll look through their site for
sugestions. I know they sell a spray on polymer
like stuff that supposedly prevents
transpiration, thereby reducing radiant heat
loss during a frost night.

Does the covering work?

I don't know.

I put in on this year for two days and nights
because the temps were supposed to get down to 25
degrees. It actually only got down to about 29
degrees one night.

I would talk to the people at groworganic. They
claim that a lot of grape growers use the
material. There are several grades of it.

I have a set of catch wires about a foot above my
cordon wire so I just draped it over these wires
and attached with those springy paper clasps. I
bought about 200 small ones at Staples fairly
cheap. The two ends did not quite reach the
ground but the people I bought it from said it
would still offer protection as long as it was
close to the ground.

I had a heart breaking season last year so I was
not going to take a chance this year. My bud
break is excellent this year.

I thought about
coverings, but it didn't make sense to my small
brain. as best I understand it, frost is the
result of radiant heat loss into sub-freezing
air, resulting in frost-bitten new shoots. does
the vine transpire enough heat that the cover
can hold in to prevent the frost freeze?
Curious.

Anway, I need to put in a sprinkler system this
next season. I'll problably lose the majority of
the primary shoots this year - which means a
less than 50% crop. &*^$@#&*$



On 2008-04-20 13:07:04 -0700, "Paul E. Lehmann"
said:

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Anyone have additional thoughts on reducing /
eliminating frost damage?

Our vineyard is at about 2800' here in the
Sierra Foothills. April frosts, soon afer
budbreak, are an annual anxiety. Last night
was a cold one, and we've got some notable
frost damage this morning.

Tonight looks to be another cold one, probably
worse (no wind), so we're irrigating heavy
today, trying to get the soil around the vines
as saturated as possible in an atempt to try
and change the soil heat radiation profile as
much as possible.

Anyone use any additional frost protection
strategies? Sprinklers and fans are not
possible for us jst now ($).

I live in Central Maryland. Last year I took a
big hit from spring freeze so this year I
ordered a row of covering material from:

groworganic.com
(888) 784-1722

It was a 83 inches by 500 feet and the cost was
about $167.

They claim they sell to a lot of vineyards out
there in California.

I just have a small backyard vineyard of about
110
vines. It could get expensive if you have a
lot under production.

Sounds good - will chat with the folks at PV. I've just had that
hertbreak. Two consecutive nights of frost. UNtil now, I was having a
wndeful bud break. Longest shoots were about 3", most half of that. All
now gray and withered. There goes what I was hoping was going to be a
banner crop.

For sure I am installing a fine mist sprinkler system this year. Like
you, I've only got a small vineyard (about 200 vines) and one or two
nights of frost can wipe out the bulk of a season.

Interetsing - the muscat have thus far avoided forst damage. They are
on a steeper slope abov the rest of the vineyard. I'm guessing that the
air movement down that slope is enough to give them a degree or two
more protection.



On 2008-04-21 03:23:22 -0700, "Paul E. Lehmann" said:

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Thanks Paul - I'll check this out.

It so happens that I live just up the hill from
the HQ of 'groworganic.com' (Peaceful Valley
Farm Supplies). I'll look through their site for
sugestions. I know they sell a spray on polymer
like stuff that supposedly prevents
transpiration, thereby reducing radiant heat
loss during a frost night.

Does the covering work?

I don't know.

I put in on this year for two days and nights
because the temps were supposed to get down to 25
degrees. It actually only got down to about 29
degrees one night.

I would talk to the people at groworganic. They
claim that a lot of grape growers use the
material. There are several grades of it.

I have a set of catch wires about a foot above my
cordon wire so I just draped it over these wires
and attached with those springy paper clasps. I
bought about 200 small ones at Staples fairly
cheap. The two ends did not quite reach the
ground but the people I bought it from said it
would still offer protection as long as it was
close to the ground.

I had a heart breaking season last year so I was
not going to take a chance this year. My bud
break is excellent this year.

I thought about
coverings, but it didn't make sense to my small
brain. as best I understand it, frost is the
result of radiant heat loss into sub-freezing
air, resulting in frost-bitten new shoots. does
the vine transpire enough heat that the cover
can hold in to prevent the frost freeze?
Curious.

Anway, I need to put in a sprinkler system this
next season. I'll problably lose the majority of
the primary shoots this year - which means a
less than 50% crop. &*^$@#&*$



On 2008-04-20 13:07:04 -0700, "Paul E. Lehmann"
said:

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Anyone have additional thoughts on reducing /
eliminating frost damage?

Our vineyard is at about 2800' here in the
Sierra Foothills. April frosts, soon afer
budbreak, are an annual anxiety. Last night
was a cold one, and we've got some notable
frost damage this morning.

Tonight looks to be another cold one, probably
worse (no wind), so we're irrigating heavy
today, trying to get the soil around the vines
as saturated as possible in an atempt to try
and change the soil heat radiation profile as
much as possible.

Anyone use any additional frost protection
strategies? Sprinklers and fans are not
possible for us jst now ($).

I live in Central Maryland. Last year I took a
big hit from spring freeze so this year I
ordered a row of covering material from:

groworganic.com
(888) 784-1722

It was a 83 inches by 500 feet and the cost was
about $167.

They claim they sell to a lot of vineyards out
there in California.

I just have a small backyard vineyard of about
110
vines. It could get expensive if you have a
lot under production.

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Sounds good - will chat with the folks at PV.
I've just had that hertbreak. Two consecutive
nights of frost. UNtil now, I was having a
wndeful bud break. Longest shoots were about 3",
most half of that. All now gray and withered.
There goes what I was hoping was going to be a
banner crop.

For sure I am installing a fine mist sprinkler
system this year. Like you, I've only got a
small vineyard (about 200 vines) and one or two
nights of frost can wipe out the bulk of a
season.

Interetsing - the muscat have thus far avoided
forst damage. They are on a steeper slope abov
the rest of the vineyard. I'm guessing that the
air movement down that slope is enough to give
them a degree or two more protection.

Could be. I am on the side of a hill near a
ravine. I think the cold air moves down and
settles before moving more down the ravine.

My Cabernet Sauvignon came through it best last
year, BUT the Racoons got most of those. At
first I thought it was birds but then I observed
that the grapes were being eaten in the center of
the row. Birds usually start at the ends. I had
netting up but the racoons were too cleaver. In
five days, I trapped 5 racoons. I am putting out
the trap EARLY this year.

I am going to put a bottom wire in about a foot or
a foot and a half from the ground and that way I
will have something to hook the net onto under
the vines - also something to clamp the cold
protection material onto.

It is really gut wrenching to know that you have
to maintain the vines this year even though you
won't get much reward.

Good luck.

Paul





On 2008-04-21 03:23:22 -0700, "Paul E. Lehmann"
said:

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Thanks Paul - I'll check this out.

It so happens that I live just up the hill
from the HQ of 'groworganic.com' (Peaceful
Valley Farm Supplies). I'll look through their
site for sugestions. I know they sell a spray
on polymer like stuff that supposedly prevents
transpiration, thereby reducing radiant heat
loss during a frost night.

Does the covering work?

I don't know.

I put in on this year for two days and nights
because the temps were supposed to get down to
25
degrees. It actually only got down to about 29
degrees one night.

I would talk to the people at groworganic.
They claim that a lot of grape growers use the
material. There are several grades of it.

I have a set of catch wires about a foot above
my cordon wire so I just draped it over these
wires
and attached with those springy paper clasps.
I bought about 200 small ones at Staples fairly
cheap. The two ends did not quite reach the
ground but the people I bought it from said it
would still offer protection as long as it was
close to the ground.

I had a heart breaking season last year so I
was
not going to take a chance this year. My bud
break is excellent this year.

I thought about
coverings, but it didn't make sense to my
small brain. as best I understand it, frost is
the result of radiant heat loss into
sub-freezing air, resulting in frost-bitten
new shoots. does the vine transpire enough
heat that the cover can hold in to prevent the
frost freeze? Curious.

Anway, I need to put in a sprinkler system
this next season. I'll problably lose the
majority of the primary shoots this year -
which means a less than 50% crop. &*^$@#&*$



On 2008-04-20 13:07:04 -0700, "Paul E.
Lehmann" said:

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Anyone have additional thoughts on reducing
/ eliminating frost damage?

Our vineyard is at about 2800' here in the
Sierra Foothills. April frosts, soon afer
budbreak, are an annual anxiety. Last night
was a cold one, and we've got some notable
frost damage this morning.

Tonight looks to be another cold one,
probably worse (no wind), so we're
irrigating heavy today, trying to get the
soil around the vines as saturated as
possible in an atempt to try and change the
soil heat radiation profile as much as
possible.

Anyone use any additional frost protection
strategies? Sprinklers and fans are not
possible for us jst now ($).

I live in Central Maryland. Last year I took
a big hit from spring freeze so this year I
ordered a row of covering material from:

groworganic.com
(888) 784-1722

It was a 83 inches by 500 feet and the cost
was about $167.

They claim they sell to a lot of vineyards
out there in California.

I just have a small backyard vineyard of
about 110
vines. It could get expensive if you have a
lot under production.

On Apr 21, 12:20*pm, "Paul E. Lehmann" wrote:
AxisOfBeagles wrote:
Sounds good - will chat with the folks at PV.
I've just had that hertbreak. Two consecutive
nights of frost. UNtil now, I was having a
wndeful bud break. Longest shoots were about 3",
most half of that. All now gray and withered.
There goes what I was hoping was going to be a
banner crop.

For sure I am installing a fine mist sprinkler
system this year. Like you, I've only got a
small vineyard (about 200 vines) and one or two
nights of frost can wipe out the bulk of a
season.

Interetsing - the muscat have thus far avoided
forst damage. They are on a steeper slope abov
the rest of the vineyard. I'm guessing that the
air movement down that slope is enough to give
them a degree or two more protection.

Could be. *I am on the side of a hill near a
ravine. *I think the cold air moves down and
settles before moving more down the ravine. *

My Cabernet Sauvignon came through it best last
year, BUT the Racoons got most of those. *At
first I thought it was birds but then I observed
that the grapes were being eaten in the center of
the row. *Birds usually start at the ends. I had
netting up but the racoons were too cleaver. *In
five days, I trapped 5 racoons. *I am putting out
the trap EARLY this year.

I am going to put a bottom wire in about a foot or
a foot and a half from the ground and that way I
will have something to hook the net onto under
the vines - also something to clamp the cold
protection material onto.

It is really gut wrenching to know that you have
to maintain the vines this year even though you
won't get much reward.

Good luck.

Paul





On 2008-04-21 03:23:22 -0700, "Paul E. Lehmann"
said:

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Thanks Paul - I'll check this out.

It so happens that I live just up the hill
from the HQ of 'groworganic.com' (Peaceful
Valley Farm Supplies). I'll look through their
site for sugestions. I know they sell a spray
on polymer like stuff that supposedly prevents
transpiration, thereby reducing radiant heat
loss during a frost night.

Does the covering work?

I don't know.

I put in on this year for two days and nights
because the temps were supposed to get down to
25
degrees. *It actually only got down to about 29
degrees one night.

I would talk to the people at groworganic.
They claim that a lot of grape growers use the
material. *There are several grades of it.

I have a set of catch wires about a foot above
my cordon wire so I just draped it over these
wires
and attached with those springy paper clasps.
I bought about 200 small ones at Staples fairly
cheap. *The two ends did not quite reach the
ground but the people I bought it from said it
would still offer protection as long as it was
close to the ground.

I had a heart breaking season last year so I
was
not going to take a chance this year. *My bud
break is excellent this year.

I thought about
coverings, but it didn't make sense to my
small brain. as best I understand it, frost is
the result of radiant heat loss into
sub-freezing air, resulting in frost-bitten
new shoots. does the vine transpire enough
heat that the cover can hold in to prevent the
frost freeze? Curious.

Anway, I need to put in a sprinkler system
this next season. I'll problably lose the
majority of the primary shoots this year -
which means a less than 50% crop. &*^$@#&*$

On 2008-04-20 13:07:04 -0700, "Paul E.
Lehmann" said:

AxisOfBeagles wrote:

Anyone have additional thoughts on reducing
/ eliminating frost damage?

Our vineyard is at about 2800' here in the
Sierra Foothills. April frosts, soon afer
budbreak, are an annual anxiety. Last night
was a cold one, and we've got some notable
frost damage this morning.

Tonight looks to be another cold one,
probably worse (no wind), so we're
irrigating heavy today, trying to get the
soil around the vines as saturated as
possible in an atempt to try and change the
soil heat radiation profile as much as
possible.

Anyone use any additional frost protection
strategies? Sprinklers and fans are not
possible for us jst now ($).

I live in Central Maryland. *Last year I took
a big hit from spring freeze so this year I
ordered a row of covering material from:

groworganic.com
(888) 784-1722

It was a 83 inches by 500 feet and the cost
was about $167.

They claim they sell to a lot of vineyards
out there in California.

I just have a small backyard vineyard of
about 110
vines. *It could get expensive if you have a
lot under production.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

that is heartbreaking.
I feel for you.


I have a neighbor that got so frustruated with the little raccoons
that he ended up trading in his traps, for a .22

Sad, but it reflects his level of frustration.

that is heartbreaking.
I feel for you.


I have a neighbor that got so frustruated with
the little raccoons that he ended up trading in
his traps, for a .22

Sad, but it reflects his level of frustration.

Part of it was my own fault. I had a compost bin
near my last row. That was probably like ringing
the dinner bell. I feel now that the best
looking racoon is a dead one besides the road.
Same for deer.

I have seen a BIG fox in the vineyard on several
occasions. Perhaps he will put racoon on his
meal schedule. I use to see a LOT of rabbits.
Hardly any now.