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Kath starts with ...
I can only imagine the degree of frosts around the country in the past few days, here at the nursery in Kyogle we have had our coldest morning in 30 years this morning. It was incredible to see the results of our frost protection and the damage that an extra degree can do to plants. Our sprinklers come on when the air temperature reaches 0 degrees, this was at 11.30 pm last night so by sunrise there was a thick coating of ice over everything. The ice prevents the cells inside the plant from freezing and therefore prevents damage by the frost.
I can only imagine the degree of frosts around the country in the past few days, here at the nursery in Kyogle we have had our coldest morning in 30 years this morning. It was incredible to see the results of our frost protection and the damage that an extra degree can do to plants. Our sprinklers come on when the air temperature reaches 0 degrees, this was at 11.30 pm last night so by sunrise there was a thick coating of ice over everything. The ice prevents the cells inside the plant from freezing and therefore prevents damage by the frost.
| Pictures - Click to enlarge | ||
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 Picture: 4 |  Picture: 5 |  Picture: 6 |
Kath
Cawongla
19th July 2007
Emma
Elermore Vale
19th July 2007
Dekka
Newcastle
19th July 2007
Kath says...
Here are a couple of before and after shots showing how the ice works. It is latent heat vaporisation that does the trick and I would need my brains trust to help me explain how this works, unless there is someone else out there who can help me out. As the water freezes on the surface of the plant it heats up and creates a buffer from the frost which prevents the cells inside the plant being damaged. The sprinklers stay on all night so by the morning there is a thick layer of ice covering the plants. As it melts the plants do not suffer from internal damage and as you can see these young seedlings do not look as though they have been through a -4 degrees frost. The ice shots were taken this morning at 7.30am, the second shots at 10am once the ice had melted.
Here are a couple of before and after shots showing how the ice works. It is latent heat vaporisation that does the trick and I would need my brains trust to help me explain how this works, unless there is someone else out there who can help me out. As the water freezes on the surface of the plant it heats up and creates a buffer from the frost which prevents the cells inside the plant being damaged. The sprinklers stay on all night so by the morning there is a thick layer of ice covering the plants. As it melts the plants do not suffer from internal damage and as you can see these young seedlings do not look as though they have been through a -4 degrees frost. The ice shots were taken this morning at 7.30am, the second shots at 10am once the ice had melted.
| Pictures - Click to enlarge | ||
 Picture: 1 |  Picture: 2 |  Picture: 3 |
 Picture: 4 | ||
Kath
Cawongla
20th July 2007
Correy says...
I love those photos.
What happens is when you sprinkle water on the plant ice forms as can be seen in the pics. But when new water goes onto the plants the original ice that has formed around the plants releases heat of up to 10 degrees which protects the plant. Maybe someone could help me out with this explanation.
Here are some more photos.
I love those photos.
What happens is when you sprinkle water on the plant ice forms as can be seen in the pics. But when new water goes onto the plants the original ice that has formed around the plants releases heat of up to 10 degrees which protects the plant. Maybe someone could help me out with this explanation.
Here are some more photos.
| Pictures - Click to enlarge | ||
 Picture: 1 |  Picture: 2 |  Picture: 3 |
 Picture: 4 |  Picture: 5 | |
Correy
Woolloongabba, Qld
20th July 2007
Melissa
Luddenham
21st July 2007
Dekka says...
I did some reading and learned that the application of water has two beneficial effects regarding frost protection.
1. The drier the air becomes then more heat is lost into the atmosphere, so humidifying the air reduces the amount of heat radiated away and the severity of the frost.
2. The constant application of water to plants maintains the surface temperature around zero-ish degrees which is generally more tolerable and less damaging than if it continued to drop to several degrees below zero.
I did some reading and learned that the application of water has two beneficial effects regarding frost protection.
1. The drier the air becomes then more heat is lost into the atmosphere, so humidifying the air reduces the amount of heat radiated away and the severity of the frost.
2. The constant application of water to plants maintains the surface temperature around zero-ish degrees which is generally more tolerable and less damaging than if it continued to drop to several degrees below zero.
Dekka
Newcastle
21st July 2007
Emma says...
im thinking it might also have something to do with the slow formation of the ice crystals of the water within the leaves. From vague memory the slow freeze crystals are differently shaped and therefore are less likely to rupture the cells of the plant?
all i know is the reason you cant freeze lettuce is cos the ice crystals rupture the cell walls destroying the crisp structure of the leaf :D
-em
im thinking it might also have something to do with the slow formation of the ice crystals of the water within the leaves. From vague memory the slow freeze crystals are differently shaped and therefore are less likely to rupture the cells of the plant?
all i know is the reason you cant freeze lettuce is cos the ice crystals rupture the cell walls destroying the crisp structure of the leaf :D
-em
Emma
Elermore Vale
21st July 2007
Tony says...
Your explanation is basically correct, as the water freezes heat is actually released as the crystalline structure of water ice contains less energy than the liquid state, (even at the same temperature) where the molecules are actually closer together and hydrogen-bonding between the water molecules gives a higher energy state. This is the opposite of most substances but is why water ice floats. The opposite happens as ice melts, it actually takes up a lot of energy to convert water back to the liquid state before the temperature rises at all - very good for cooling drinks. In a similar way the turning of water to gas rather than liquid takes more heat than raising the temperature from zero to 100 degrees in the first place. Evaporative cooling uses this principle. This property of water is unusual, but not unique, ammonia will also behave this way though at a much lower temperature, which makes it the very best refrigerant of all (apart from its toxicity and highly reactive and corrosive nature). This property of water is a major factor in the whole water cycle and weather of the planet.
PS. We have had some severe hail and prolonged low temperatures which have done a lot of damage to some of the tropical plants I have been trying to grow, but because of our extreme coastal position and slope we have not had a frost or indeed even a temperature below 2 degrees. I think frost is less of a factor here than lack of any warm temperatures for 4 months in a row. No one seems to have a measure of this factor for warm climate plants, though we do have enough chilling to grow cherries, stone fruit, cox apples, etc with ease. Can anyone develop a maximum chill factor index for tropical and subtropical fruit?
Your explanation is basically correct, as the water freezes heat is actually released as the crystalline structure of water ice contains less energy than the liquid state, (even at the same temperature) where the molecules are actually closer together and hydrogen-bonding between the water molecules gives a higher energy state. This is the opposite of most substances but is why water ice floats. The opposite happens as ice melts, it actually takes up a lot of energy to convert water back to the liquid state before the temperature rises at all - very good for cooling drinks. In a similar way the turning of water to gas rather than liquid takes more heat than raising the temperature from zero to 100 degrees in the first place. Evaporative cooling uses this principle. This property of water is unusual, but not unique, ammonia will also behave this way though at a much lower temperature, which makes it the very best refrigerant of all (apart from its toxicity and highly reactive and corrosive nature). This property of water is a major factor in the whole water cycle and weather of the planet.
PS. We have had some severe hail and prolonged low temperatures which have done a lot of damage to some of the tropical plants I have been trying to grow, but because of our extreme coastal position and slope we have not had a frost or indeed even a temperature below 2 degrees. I think frost is less of a factor here than lack of any warm temperatures for 4 months in a row. No one seems to have a measure of this factor for warm climate plants, though we do have enough chilling to grow cherries, stone fruit, cox apples, etc with ease. Can anyone develop a maximum chill factor index for tropical and subtropical fruit?
Tony
11th August 2007
Tony
11th August 2007
Emma
Elermore Vale
12th August 2007
Chris Bourke says...
RE: the big freeze....At Tamborine Village near the base of Tamborine Mountain, we had a very cold two days in July....around -4 degrees.
Just like at Kyogle, it is the coldest I have recorded in 20+ years. Most of the citrus trees I have stood it fairly well.
In particular, practically all of the finger limes I purchased from Daley's Nursery generally came through without ill effect. Some will be turning three years old this summer, and are a mass of flowers (September). The one selection that had "quite a touch up" was the yellow-green cutting grown variety.
It may be true that the other selections budded to Troyer Citrange stock have had some degree of cold tolerance imparted to them.
Of 30 other finger limes selected from the high country around Kyogle, 15 were killed back to the bud union. They were planted out in July and were not fully dormant when the big frost hit. This I think is a lesson in growing these native citrus in areas prone to the occasional big freeze....if they are dormant and established, they will generally escape damage.
All is not lost, I will rebud them in early summer.
Regards,
Chris Bourke
RE: the big freeze....At Tamborine Village near the base of Tamborine Mountain, we had a very cold two days in July....around -4 degrees.
Just like at Kyogle, it is the coldest I have recorded in 20+ years. Most of the citrus trees I have stood it fairly well.
In particular, practically all of the finger limes I purchased from Daley's Nursery generally came through without ill effect. Some will be turning three years old this summer, and are a mass of flowers (September). The one selection that had "quite a touch up" was the yellow-green cutting grown variety.
It may be true that the other selections budded to Troyer Citrange stock have had some degree of cold tolerance imparted to them.
Of 30 other finger limes selected from the high country around Kyogle, 15 were killed back to the bud union. They were planted out in July and were not fully dormant when the big frost hit. This I think is a lesson in growing these native citrus in areas prone to the occasional big freeze....if they are dormant and established, they will generally escape damage.
All is not lost, I will rebud them in early summer.
Regards,
Chris Bourke
Chris Bourke
Tamborine Village
11th September 2007
Kath says...
This is very interesting Chris, we also found out that the native finger limes are much hardier than we expected. We had -7 degrees here and they are fine, a few of the varieties died back a little but nothing to worry about they are now covered in new shoots and looking gorgeous. The one in the orchard did not even look as if it had been frosted while everything around it suffered.
This is very interesting Chris, we also found out that the native finger limes are much hardier than we expected. We had -7 degrees here and they are fine, a few of the varieties died back a little but nothing to worry about they are now covered in new shoots and looking gorgeous. The one in the orchard did not even look as if it had been frosted while everything around it suffered.
Kath
Cawongla
12th September 2007
Rev says...
out here in tabulam we had a few nights at teh same time -4,-5 and -6
Most citrus were unhurt if a touch scalded and all are on trifoliata or flying dragon
the arnold blood and buddha hand citron got cut back - i was suprised about the orange
unhurt list is : minneola, ryan navel, washington navel, valencia, mandarins, pink ice fingerlime, tahitian lime, kaffir lime
banana cut back to rootstock (as are every year)but looks great now
tassie berry got burned badly and some died (ugni)
riberry and magenta cherry, davidsons plum - all dead
sandpaper fig reshoots in spring
acerola was killed stone dead
andean walnut cut to main trunk
killed outright down the road were brazil cherry, pachira insignis, and bilimbi, passionfruit - of course
biggest suprise was indeed the jaboticabas which seemed untouched while trees next to them melted
A hybrid seedling macadamia was unhurt. even its seedlings only got scorched and reshot in spring
out here in tabulam we had a few nights at teh same time -4,-5 and -6
Most citrus were unhurt if a touch scalded and all are on trifoliata or flying dragon
the arnold blood and buddha hand citron got cut back - i was suprised about the orange
unhurt list is : minneola, ryan navel, washington navel, valencia, mandarins, pink ice fingerlime, tahitian lime, kaffir lime
banana cut back to rootstock (as are every year)but looks great now
tassie berry got burned badly and some died (ugni)
riberry and magenta cherry, davidsons plum - all dead
sandpaper fig reshoots in spring
acerola was killed stone dead
andean walnut cut to main trunk
killed outright down the road were brazil cherry, pachira insignis, and bilimbi, passionfruit - of course
biggest suprise was indeed the jaboticabas which seemed untouched while trees next to them melted
A hybrid seedling macadamia was unhurt. even its seedlings only got scorched and reshot in spring
Rev
Tabulam
19th November 2007
Anonymous
2nd June 2008