Deep South Homestead
Deep South Homestead community with Danny and Wanda.
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Danny & Wanda’s post freeze update
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Danny & Wanda’s post freeze update
Danny & Wanda-
I’m watching your updates from the freeze. I wanted to share some tips that I’ve picked up for our zone 5b. Before a dip in temps, I always water my soil well before the freezing temps. I have a hoop house and raised beds. I do have hoops over my raised bed and cover those with frost blankets then 6mm greenhouse plastic. If I have plants looking wilty, I water them overhead. As the hoop house warms up, the plants are not showing permanent damage. Like you guys, I do not heat the hoop house. I am successful at keeping spinach, swiss chard, kale, and some lettuces along with herbs. I realize you may not have a menards, but I find these are the most economical. they do offer shipping. https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/gardening/lawn-plant-care/plant-supports/5-x-30-frost-blanket/690133-a/p-1444431628522-c-1463608034801.htm?tid=8209691010082378328&ipos=1
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3 Replies
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I can confirm the watering. Here they grow a lot of citrus, nuts and other food, and especially if a hard freeze is expected, they water heavily. If I’m remembering correctly, it hydrates the plants and helps them from being as stressed or having a harder time recovering. Then, I believe I also recall that they set up fans (even in the orchards, they use huge industrial versions) to keep the air moving. I can’t remember the exact details, but I recall it being reported in the news in years past when hard freezes were forecasted.
There’s a gardener north of here that actually runs sprinklers on his property when it freezes. As the temperatures lower, the water covers the trees, freezing in layers and actually protecting the trees. He’s done videos about it. One year in the recent past he had many of his trees in full bloom due to the crazy weather, and it was all saved because he used the ice as an insulator. It was fascinating. If anyone is interested, let me know and I’ll try to find his video to post here.
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I’m interested.
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Hi there. His name is Dan. I believe he’s in zone 9b in the Sacramento Valley in California. He’s an interesting character, and his YT channel is called Plant Abundance. He’s a little eccentric at times, but he has successfully turned his suburban back yard into a food forrest and orchard, and done many different kinds of experiments over the years that he’s filmed to encourage others. Here’s a link to the search. I used the key words “sprinklers during freeze.” I think the first several videos are about that topic, and then it branches out from there. https://www.youtube.com/@plantabundance/search?query=sprinklers%20during%20freeze. I’ll be curious what you think once you’ve seen what he does.
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