View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
mullenium
Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192
|
Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:21 am Post subject: Frost cloth advice |
|
|
Hey I still have my PVC sun shade structure up over my 2 mango's and was wondering how I should incorporate frost cloth to it? do they sell it by the bulk? so I would just drape it over the entire structure and zip tie them piece by piece?
do they sell a frost cloth you can leave up sorta like the sun shade method? I would hate to have to drape it then take it off every morning |
|
Back to top |
|
![](templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif) |
phoenixtropicals Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 1207 Location: Mesa Arizona
|
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 10:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
You can buy a roll of it online, much much cheaper than the local nurseries sell it. I bought a roll a couple of years ago (100 ft. maybe. I don't recall) and then cut it into smaller sections. These sections still ended up being much larger than the sizes you can find locally. You don't want to leave your plants covered all the time because it blocks the sun too much, but you can leave it on for a week or so until the cold front moves out. You should just cover them when temperatures are predicted to be under 35 F. |
|
Back to top |
|
![](templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif) |
mullenium
Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192
|
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This past weekend temps hit 36.. what I ended up doing was the ol C9 xmas light trick wrapped around both trees, also put a bucket of water under each tree (i read somewhere that this sorta combats frost?) |
|
Back to top |
|
![](templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif) |
mullenium
Joined: 01 Apr 2010 Posts: 192
|
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 1:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
http://www.liquidfence.com/FreezePruf.html
Check this stuff out.. I used it last season and it seemed to work, although I also had the xmas lights and burlap wrapped around the trunk of the mango tree as I was too scared to try the spray alone |
|
Back to top |
|
![](templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif) |
phoenixtropicals Site Admin
Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 1207 Location: Mesa Arizona
|
Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't know about the water stuff. It would help some, but I don't know if it will supply enough heat if it gets really cold. Here is my system.
1) Light frost possible - Cover with frost cloth, make sure a tent is made that includes the ground as a base. The ground is your source of heat. Simply wrapping the tree but not including the ground in your closure will not accomplish anything.
2) Hard freeze possible - Cover with frost cloth and put 75 watt incandescent bulb in your tent. I have a greenhouse thermostat that I use to turn on the electricity when the temperatures get below 35 degrees. It has a very high amperage rating, so I can use extension cords to protect a lot of plants with this system.
You were already down to 35! Wow, you are in a tough place to grow mangoes. I don't think we were even close to that here in North Mesa. Maybe we got into the upper 40's? I'm not quite sure.
Good luck. ![Very Happy](images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif) |
|
Back to top |
|
![](templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif) |
|