[apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse?
Hello Rye, I am not very expert in this, as I don't use the system, so hopefully somebody else can add more. Regarding the ice and icicles, these would not necessarily mean you had a problem, as long as there was a coating of unfrozen water on them at all times. This would prevent the ice from dropping below freezing point. The fact that the water turned off could be a problem though, as then there would have been no more unfrozen water, and the ice (and buds encased therein) would drop to the ambient temperature. 4gph sprinklers might not be adequate I suspect, or would not protect against a more severe frost (it depends too on how close they are spaced). When I looked into getting frost-protection irrigation for my orchards, the water use would have been many times (perhaps 6 or 8 times from memory) what I would have needed for soil mositure deficit irrigation only. I am afriad that I can't shed light on what a good rate would be, but I bet someone else here can. The good news is I would be very surprised if your trees were damaged by the ice. Con Traas Ireland From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Rye Hefley Sent: Sun 02/02/2014 17:01 To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse? Hello, So last night there was a forecast for 29° for early this morning. Frost NOT in the forecast. So I decided the forecast could change to frost while I was sleeping or the forecasters could miss it so I scheduled the sprinklers. This was my first attempt at frost protection as this is the first producing year for the orchard. First concern: I set the time too short and the sprinklers turned off at 6:30 (worst possible time). Don't ask me what I was thinking when came up with the duration, though I have degree in math, I don't have one in arithmetic. So it was off for an hour before I discovered it and turned it back on. Second concern: using 4 gallon/hour micro sprinklers that produce a thick mist, when I went out there at 7:30 the trees (flowers, leaves, wood, set fruit) were encased in 1/4" ice and icicles. So I think maybe the 4GPH nozzles deliver too little water for frost protection and just made it worse. Also being off for the worse possible hour made it "worser" still. What would be your assessment on the damage I did this year? (Fortunately only one variety that I care much about. The others haven't bloomed yet so no water on those.) Will the trees survive the ice? Will the fruit that already set be OK? Kiss the flowers goodbye? Will the new buds make it? If 4GPH is not sufficient, in the future what would be a better delivery rate. (Assuming I could avoid the arithmetic error from now on.) Thanks for your insights. Rye Hefley So Cal ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop <>___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse?
It sounds to me like Rye has enough water. It is the spacing of the sprinklers that give coverage. That much ice in a minor event will do fine in a colder event. It is water per acre or and even coverage that makes for success. If I remember 700 gallons per minute/acre is a close number. However I am relying on memory ? . I get success with around 500 gallons /acre down to 22deg. John Belisle 4160 Guide Merdian Lynden Wa. 98264 Off: 360-318-7720 Cell: 360-739-4060 From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Con.Traas Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 10:11 AM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse? Hello Rye, I am not very expert in this, as I don't use the system, so hopefully somebody else can add more. Regarding the ice and icicles, these would not necessarily mean you had a problem, as long as there was a coating of unfrozen water on them at all times. This would prevent the ice from dropping below freezing point. The fact that the water turned off could be a problem though, as then there would have been no more unfrozen water, and the ice (and buds encased therein) would drop to the ambient temperature. 4gph sprinklers might not be adequate I suspect, or would not protect against a more severe frost (it depends too on how close they are spaced). When I looked into getting frost-protection irrigation for my orchards, the water use would have been many times (perhaps 6 or 8 times from memory) what I would have needed for soil mositure deficit irrigation only. I am afriad that I can't shed light on what a good rate would be, but I bet someone else here can. The good news is I would be very surprised if your trees were damaged by the ice. Con Traas Ireland _ From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Rye Hefley Sent: Sun 02/02/2014 17:01 To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse? Hello, So last night there was a forecast for 29° for early this morning. Frost NOT in the forecast. So I decided the forecast could change to frost while I was sleeping or the forecasters could miss it so I scheduled the sprinklers. This was my first attempt at frost protection as this is the first producing year for the orchard. First concern: I set the time too short and the sprinklers turned off at 6:30 (worst possible time). Don't ask me what I was thinking when came up with the duration, though I have degree in math, I don't have one in arithmetic. So it was off for an hour before I discovered it and turned it back on. Second concern: using 4 gallon/hour micro sprinklers that produce a thick mist, when I went out there at 7:30 the trees (flowers, leaves, wood, set fruit) were encased in 1/4" ice and icicles. So I think maybe the 4GPH nozzles deliver too little water for frost protection and just made it worse. Also being off for the worse possible hour made it "worser" still. What would be your assessment on the damage I did this year? (Fortunately only one variety that I care much about. The others haven't bloomed yet so no water on those.) Will the trees survive the ice? Will the fruit that already set be OK? Kiss the flowers goodbye? Will the new buds make it? If 4GPH is not sufficient, in the future what would be a better delivery rate. (Assuming I could avoid the arithmetic error from now on.) Thanks for your insights. Rye Hefley So Cal ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse?
Thanks Con, The spacing is one 360 degee nozzlee between each tree so each tree is hit from both sides. The ice is gone now and the flowers are still fragrant. The petals are a bit translucent. Stems are still green but may be too early to tell anything. Yeah I worry about the off hour. I guess wait and see. Again thanks. Rye -- On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 10:11 AM PST Con.Traas wrote: >Hello Rye, >I am not very expert in this, as I don't use the system, so hopefully somebody >else can add more. Regarding the ice and icicles, these would not necessarily >mean you had a problem, as long as there was a coating of unfrozen water on >them at all times. This would prevent the ice from dropping below freezing >point. The fact that the water turned off could be a problem though, as then >there would have been no more unfrozen water, and the ice (and buds encased >therein) would drop to the ambient temperature. >4gph sprinklers might not be adequate I suspect, or would not protect against >a more severe frost (it depends too on how close they are spaced). When I >looked into getting frost-protection irrigation for my orchards, the water use >would have been many times (perhaps 6 or 8 times from memory) what I would >have needed for soil mositure deficit irrigation only. I am afriad that I >can't shed light on what a good rate would be, but I bet someone else here can. >The good news is I would be very surprised if your trees were damaged by the >ice. >Con Traas >Ireland > > > >From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Rye Hefley >Sent: Sun 02/02/2014 17:01 >To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made >mattersworse? > > > >Hello, > >So last night there was a forecast for 29° for early this morning. Frost NOT >in the forecast. > >So I decided the forecast could change to frost while I was sleeping or the >forecasters could miss it so I scheduled the sprinklers. This was my first >attempt at frost protection as this is the first producing year for the >orchard. > >First concern: I set the time too short and the sprinklers turned off at 6:30 >(worst possible time). Don't ask me what I was thinking when came up with the >duration, though I have degree in math, I don't have one in arithmetic. So it >was off for an hour before I discovered it and turned it back on. > >Second concern: using 4 gallon/hour micro sprinklers that produce a thick >mist, when I went out there at 7:30 the trees (flowers, leaves, wood, set >fruit) were encased in 1/4" ice and icicles. > >So I think maybe the 4GPH nozzles deliver too little water for frost >protection and just made it worse. Also being off for the worse possible hour >made it "worser" still. > >What would be your assessment on the damage I did this year? (Fortunately only >one variety that I care much about. The others haven't bloomed yet so no water >on those.) Will the trees survive the ice? Will the fruit that already set be >OK? Kiss the flowers goodbye? Will the new buds make it? > >If 4GPH is not sufficient, in the future what would be a better delivery rate. >(Assuming I could avoid the arithmetic error from now on.) > >Thanks for your insights. > >Rye Hefley >So Cal >___ >apple-crop mailing list >apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse?
slice some incipient fruit thru the equator with your thumbnail or a knife - healthy fruit will have pearlescent ovules - damage will show up as brown tissue - David Doud voice of experience On Feb 2, 2014, at 4:12 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > > > Thanks Con, > > The spacing is one 360 degee nozzlee between each tree so each tree is hit > from both sides. > > The ice is gone now and the flowers are still fragrant. The petals are a bit > translucent. Stems are still green but may be too early to tell anything. > > Yeah I worry about the off hour. I guess wait and see. > > Again thanks. > > Rye > > -- > On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 10:11 AM PST Con.Traas wrote: > >> Hello Rye, >> I am not very expert in this, as I don't use the system, so hopefully >> somebody else can add more. Regarding the ice and icicles, these would not >> necessarily mean you had a problem, as long as there was a coating of >> unfrozen water on them at all times. This would prevent the ice from >> dropping below freezing point. The fact that the water turned off could be a >> problem though, as then there would have been no more unfrozen water, and >> the ice (and buds encased therein) would drop to the ambient temperature. >> 4gph sprinklers might not be adequate I suspect, or would not protect >> against a more severe frost (it depends too on how close they are spaced). >> When I looked into getting frost-protection irrigation for my orchards, the >> water use would have been many times (perhaps 6 or 8 times from memory) what >> I would have needed for soil mositure deficit irrigation only. I am afriad >> that I can't shed light on what a good rate would be, but I bet someone else >> here can. >> The good news is I would be very surprised if your trees were damaged by the >> ice. >> Con Traas >> Ireland >> >> ____________ >> >> From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Rye Hefley >> Sent: Sun 02/02/2014 17:01 >> To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made >> mattersworse? >> >> >> >> Hello, >> >> So last night there was a forecast for 29° for early this morning. Frost >> NOT in the forecast. >> >> So I decided the forecast could change to frost while I was sleeping or the >> forecasters could miss it so I scheduled the sprinklers. This was my first >> attempt at frost protection as this is the first producing year for the >> orchard. >> >> First concern: I set the time too short and the sprinklers turned off at >> 6:30 (worst possible time). Don't ask me what I was thinking when came up >> with the duration, though I have degree in math, I don't have one in >> arithmetic. So it was off for an hour before I discovered it and turned it >> back on. >> >> Second concern: using 4 gallon/hour micro sprinklers that produce a thick >> mist, when I went out there at 7:30 the trees (flowers, leaves, wood, set >> fruit) were encased in 1/4" ice and icicles. >> >> So I think maybe the 4GPH nozzles deliver too little water for frost >> protection and just made it worse. Also being off for the worse possible >> hour made it "worser" still. >> >> What would be your assessment on the damage I did this year? (Fortunately >> only one variety that I care much about. The others haven't bloomed yet so >> no water on those.) Will the trees survive the ice? Will the fruit that >> already set be OK? Kiss the flowers goodbye? Will the new buds make it? >> >> If 4GPH is not sufficient, in the future what would be a better delivery >> rate. (Assuming I could avoid the arithmetic error from now on.) >> >> Thanks for your insights. >> >> Rye Hefley >> So Cal >> ___ >> apple-crop mailing list >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> >> > > ___ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse?
Thanks David will do! David Doud wrote: >slice some incipient fruit thru the equator with your thumbnail or a knife - >healthy fruit will have pearlescent ovules - damage will show up as brown >tissue - >David Doud >voice of experience > > > >On Feb 2, 2014, at 4:12 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > >> >> >> Thanks Con, >> >> The spacing is one 360 degee nozzlee between each tree so each tree is hit >> from both sides. >> >> The ice is gone now and the flowers are still fragrant. The petals are a bit >> translucent. Stems are still green but may be too early to tell anything. >> >> Yeah I worry about the off hour. I guess wait and see. >> >> Again thanks. >> >> Rye >> >> -- >> On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 10:11 AM PST Con.Traas wrote: >> >>> Hello Rye, >>> I am not very expert in this, as I don't use the system, so hopefully >>> somebody else can add more. Regarding the ice and icicles, these would not >>> necessarily mean you had a problem, as long as there was a coating of >>> unfrozen water on them at all times. This would prevent the ice from >>> dropping below freezing point. The fact that the water turned off could be >>> a problem though, as then there would have been no more unfrozen water, and >>> the ice (and buds encased therein) would drop to the ambient temperature. >>> 4gph sprinklers might not be adequate I suspect, or would not protect >>> against a more severe frost (it depends too on how close they are spaced). >>> When I looked into getting frost-protection irrigation for my orchards, the >>> water use would have been many times (perhaps 6 or 8 times from memory) >>> what I would have needed for soil mositure deficit irrigation only. I am >>> afriad that I can't shed light on what a good rate would be, but I bet >>> someone else here can. >>> The good news is I would be very surprised if your trees were damaged by >>> the ice. >>> Con Traas >>> Ireland >>> >>> >>> >>> From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Rye Hefley >>> Sent: Sun 02/02/2014 17:01 >>> To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >>> Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made >>> mattersworse? >>> >>> >>> >>> Hello, >>> >>> So last night there was a forecast for 29° for early this morning. Frost >>> NOT in the forecast. >>> >>> So I decided the forecast could change to frost while I was sleeping or the >>> forecasters could miss it so I scheduled the sprinklers. This was my first >>> attempt at frost protection as this is the first producing year for the >>> orchard. >>> >>> First concern: I set the time too short and the sprinklers turned off at >>> 6:30 (worst possible time). Don't ask me what I was thinking when came up >>> with the duration, though I have degree in math, I don't have one in >>> arithmetic. So it was off for an hour before I discovered it and turned it >>> back on. >>> >>> Second concern: using 4 gallon/hour micro sprinklers that produce a thick >>> mist, when I went out there at 7:30 the trees (flowers, leaves, wood, set >>> fruit) were encased in 1/4" ice and icicles. >>> >>> So I think maybe the 4GPH nozzles deliver too little water for frost >>> protection and just made it worse. Also being off for the worse possible >>> hour made it "worser" still. >>> >>> What would be your assessment on the damage I did this year? (Fortunately >>> only one variety that I care much about. The others haven't bloomed yet so >>> no water on those.) Will the trees survive the ice? Will the fruit that >>> already set be OK? Kiss the flowers goodbye? Will the new buds make it? >>> >>> If 4GPH is not sufficient, in the future what would be a better delivery >>> rate. (Assuming I could avoid the arithmetic error from now on.) >>> >>> Thanks for your insights. >>> >>> Rye Hefley >>> So Cal >>> ___ >>> apple-crop mailing list >>> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >>> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >>> >>> >> >> ___ >> apple-crop mailing list >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > >___ >apple-crop mailing list >apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse?
You have plenty of water but the missing hour definitely could have allowed some damage. The accepted method is to leave the water running till ice starts melting rapidly. That's usually an hour or two after the sun is shining. I've had just as good of luck with undertree sprinklers for frost control as overhead down to 25F. Advantage is not as much limb breakage from a heavy ice load with undertree. Bill Fleming Montana State University Western Ag Research Center 580 Quast Lane Corvallis, MT 59828 -Original Message- From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Rye Hefley Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 4:50 PM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse? Thanks David will do! David Doud wrote: >slice some incipient fruit thru the equator with your thumbnail or a >knife - healthy fruit will have pearlescent ovules - damage will show >up as brown tissue - David Doud voice of experience > > > >On Feb 2, 2014, at 4:12 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > >> >> >> Thanks Con, >> >> The spacing is one 360 degee nozzlee between each tree so each tree is hit >> from both sides. >> >> The ice is gone now and the flowers are still fragrant. The petals are a bit >> translucent. Stems are still green but may be too early to tell anything. >> >> Yeah I worry about the off hour. I guess wait and see. >> >> Again thanks. >> >> Rye >> >> -- >> On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 10:11 AM PST Con.Traas wrote: >> >>> Hello Rye, >>> I am not very expert in this, as I don't use the system, so hopefully >>> somebody else can add more. Regarding the ice and icicles, these would not >>> necessarily mean you had a problem, as long as there was a coating of >>> unfrozen water on them at all times. This would prevent the ice from >>> dropping below freezing point. The fact that the water turned off could be >>> a problem though, as then there would have been no more unfrozen water, and >>> the ice (and buds encased therein) would drop to the ambient temperature. >>> 4gph sprinklers might not be adequate I suspect, or would not protect >>> against a more severe frost (it depends too on how close they are spaced). >>> When I looked into getting frost-protection irrigation for my orchards, the >>> water use would have been many times (perhaps 6 or 8 times from memory) >>> what I would have needed for soil mositure deficit irrigation only. I am >>> afriad that I can't shed light on what a good rate would be, but I bet >>> someone else here can. >>> The good news is I would be very surprised if your trees were damaged by >>> the ice. >>> Con Traas >>> Ireland >>> >>> >>> >>> From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Rye Hefley >>> Sent: Sun 02/02/2014 17:01 >>> To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >>> Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made >>> mattersworse? >>> >>> >>> >>> Hello, >>> >>> So last night there was a forecast for 29° for early this morning. Frost >>> NOT in the forecast. >>> >>> So I decided the forecast could change to frost while I was sleeping or the >>> forecasters could miss it so I scheduled the sprinklers. This was my first >>> attempt at frost protection as this is the first producing year for the >>> orchard. >>> >>> First concern: I set the time too short and the sprinklers turned off at >>> 6:30 (worst possible time). Don't ask me what I was thinking when came up >>> with the duration, though I have degree in math, I don't have one in >>> arithmetic. So it was off for an hour before I discovered it and turned it >>> back on. >>> >>> Second concern: using 4 gallon/hour micro sprinklers that produce a thick >>> mist, when I went out there at 7:30 the trees (flowers, leaves, wood, set >>> fruit) were encased in 1/4" ice and icicles. >>> >>> So I think maybe the 4GPH nozzles deliver too little water for frost >>> protection and just made it worse. Also being off for the worse possible >>> hour made it "worser" still. >>> >>> What would be your assessment on the damage I did this year? (Fortunately >>> only one variety that I care much about. The others haven
Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse?
Thanks Bill. Its good to know the system is sufficient and ice is expected. Now I just need to fix the operator. Jury is still out on the losses due to being off for the worst possible hour. Rye Hefley So Cal -- On Mon, Feb 3, 2014 8:39 AM PST Fleming, William wrote: >You have plenty of water but the missing hour definitely could have allowed >some damage. The accepted method is to leave the water running till ice starts >melting rapidly. That's usually an hour or two after the sun is shining. >I've had just as good of luck with undertree sprinklers for frost control as >overhead down to 25F. Advantage is not as much limb breakage from a heavy ice >load with undertree. > >Bill Fleming >Montana State University >Western Ag Research Center >580 Quast Lane >Corvallis, MT 59828 > >-Original Message- >From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net >[mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Rye Hefley >Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 4:50 PM >To: Apple-crop discussion list >Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made >mattersworse? > >Thanks David will do! > >David Doud wrote: > >>slice some incipient fruit thru the equator with your thumbnail or a >>knife - healthy fruit will have pearlescent ovules - damage will show >>up as brown tissue - David Doud voice of experience >> >> >> >>On Feb 2, 2014, at 4:12 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: >> >> >> >> Thanks Con, >> >> The spacing is one 360 degee nozzlee between each tree so each tree is hit >> from both sides. >> >> The ice is gone now and the flowers are still fragrant. The petals are a bit >> translucent. Stems are still green but may be too early to tell anything. >> >> Yeah I worry about the off hour. I guess wait and see. >> >> Again thanks. >> >> Rye >> >> -- >> On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 10:11 AM PST Con.Traas wrote: >> >>> Hello Rye, >>> I am not very expert in this, as I don't use the system, so hopefully >>> somebody else can add more. Regarding the ice and icicles, these would not >>> necessarily mean you had a problem, as long as there was a coating of >>> unfrozen water on them at all times. This would prevent the ice from >>> dropping below freezing point. The fact that the water turned off could be >>> a problem though, as then there would have been no more unfrozen water, and >>> the ice (and buds encased therein) would drop to the ambient temperature. >>> 4gph sprinklers might not be adequate I suspect, or would not protect >>> against a more severe frost (it depends too on how close they are spaced). >>> When I looked into getting frost-protection irrigation for my orchards, the >>> water use would have been many times (perhaps 6 or 8 times from memory) >>> what I would have needed for soil mositure deficit irrigation only. I am >>> afriad that I can't shed light on what a good rate would be, but I bet >>> someone else here can. >>> The good news is I would be very surprised if your trees were damaged by >>> the ice. >>> Con Traas >>> Ireland >>> >>> >>> >>> From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Rye Hefley >>> Sent: Sun 02/02/2014 17:01 >>> To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >>> Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made >>> mattersworse? >>> >>> >>> >>> Hello, >>> >>> So last night there was a forecast for 29° for early this morning. Frost >>> NOT in the forecast. >>> >>> So I decided the forecast could change to frost while I was sleeping or the >>> forecasters could miss it so I scheduled the sprinklers. This was my first >>> attempt at frost protection as this is the first producing year for the >>> orchard. >>> >>> First concern: I set the time too short and the sprinklers turned off at >>> 6:30 (worst possible time). Don't ask me what I was thinking when came up >>> with the duration, though I have degree in math, I don't have one in >>> arithmetic. So it was off for an hour before I discovered it and turned it >>> back on. >>> >>> Second concern: using 4 gallon/hour micro sprinklers that produce a thick >>> mist, when I went out there at 7:30 the trees (flowers, leaves, wood, set >>> fruit) were encased in 1/
Re: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made mattersworse?
I broke one open with my fingernail and saw the pearly whites. Thanks for the tip David! Rye Hefley So Cal -- On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 1:25 PM PST David Doud wrote: >slice some incipient fruit thru the equator with your thumbnail or a knife - >healthy fruit will have pearlescent ovules - damage will show up as brown >tissue - >David Doud >voice of experience > > > >On Feb 2, 2014, at 4:12 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > >> >> >> Thanks Con, >> >> The spacing is one 360 degee nozzlee between each tree so each tree is hit >> from both sides. >> >> The ice is gone now and the flowers are still fragrant. The petals are a bit >> translucent. Stems are still green but may be too early to tell anything. >> >> Yeah I worry about the off hour. I guess wait and see. >> >> Again thanks. >> >> Rye >> >> -- >> On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 10:11 AM PST Con.Traas wrote: >> >> Hello Rye, >> I am not very expert in this, as I don't use the system, so hopefully >> somebody else can add more. Regarding the ice and icicles, these would not >> necessarily mean you had a problem, as long as there was a coating of >> unfrozen water on them at all times. This would prevent the ice from >> dropping below freezing point. The fact that the water turned off could be a >> problem though, as then there would have been no more unfrozen water, and >> the ice (and buds encased therein) would drop to the ambient temperature. >> 4gph sprinklers might not be adequate I suspect, or would not protect >> against a more severe frost (it depends too on how close they are spaced). >> When I looked into getting frost-protection irrigation for my orchards, the >> water use would have been many times (perhaps 6 or 8 times from memory) what >> I would have needed for soil mositure deficit irrigation only. I am afriad >> that I can't shed light on what a good rate would be, but I bet someone else >> here can. >> The good news is I would be very surprised if your trees were damaged by the >> ice. >> Con Traas >> Ireland >> >> >> >> From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net on behalf of Rye Hefley >> Sent: Sun 02/02/2014 17:01 >> To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> Subject: [apple-crop] Frost protection via overhead sprinklers made >> mattersworse? >> >> >> >> Hello, >> >> So last night there was a forecast for 29° for early this morning. Frost >> NOT in the forecast. >> >> So I decided the forecast could change to frost while I was sleeping or the >> forecasters could miss it so I scheduled the sprinklers. This was my first >> attempt at frost protection as this is the first producing year for the >> orchard. >> >> First concern: I set the time too short and the sprinklers turned off at >> 6:30 (worst possible time). Don't ask me what I was thinking when came up >> with the duration, though I have degree in math, I don't have one in >> arithmetic. So it was off for an hour before I discovered it and turned it >> back on. >> >> Second concern: using 4 gallon/hour micro sprinklers that produce a thick >> mist, when I went out there at 7:30 the trees (flowers, leaves, wood, set >> fruit) were encased in 1/4" ice and icicles. >> >> So I think maybe the 4GPH nozzles deliver too little water for frost >> protection and just made it worse. Also being off for the worse possible >> hour made it "worser" still. >> >> What would be your assessment on the damage I did this year? (Fortunately >> only one variety that I care much about. The others haven't bloomed yet so >> no water on those.) Will the trees survive the ice? Will the fruit that >> already set be OK? Kiss the flowers goodbye? Will the new buds make it? >> >> If 4GPH is not sufficient, in the future what would be a better delivery >> rate. (Assuming I could avoid the arithmetic error from now on.) >> >> Thanks for your insights. >> >> Rye Hefley >> So Cal >> ___ >> apple-crop mailing list >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> >> >> >> ___ >> apple-crop mailing list >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > >___ >apple-crop mailing list >apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
