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Garden Gate:  Cold weather coming - fruit trees in bloom - help!  |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
 Posted - May 01 2007 : 1:00:50 PM
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I've sure been asking for a lot of help lately. Freezing weather is coming in tonight and my apple trees are in bloom. My plum trees are also blooming but they are small enough to cover. The apple trees are too big to cover (they're over 100 years old). I don't have smelting pots. Can I spray them with water in the hopes that ice forms and protects the blooms? Does anyone know if this works? Since half the country lost their fruit crops a few weeks ago, I really want to save mine so I don't have to pay the inflated prices later.
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2007 : 4:20:36 PM
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Oh, I don't know about the ice idea...sounds risky. Christmas lights? Aim as many fans as you can up at them? The air circulation might keep them from freezing...at least the lower branches, don't know how tall your trees are... I've seen commercial orchards use big fans.
We make a difference. |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2007 : 06:57:33 AM
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I got lucky last night. It didn't get down to freezing. But it will tonight for sure. I have lots of Christmas lights but only a few fans. I'll give that a try. Thanks Michelle.
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2007 : 07:03:54 AM
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:) What a fun image, Lisa. You hanging Christmas lights on your orchard. I bet it will smell and feel much better than it does in December! Won't it be pretty at night, all those lights and blossoms, and reasuring to know you are saving your crop. I hope it works. I've been told the little lights warm the air enough around the blossoms that it keeps them from freezing.
We make a difference. |
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Buttercup
True Blue Farmgirl
1433 Posts
Talitha
Vermont
USA
1433 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2007 : 9:32:26 PM
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Lisa,
I do so hope it works!! It sounds so pretty but under the circumstnces, I am sure you would raither not be "pretty"!  Hoping for warmth to wrap around your blossoms!
Hugz!
Talitha
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2007 : 3:24:29 PM
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It didn't quite get to freezing last night so all is still well. I sure hope the lights work. Holding my breath...
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2007 : 5:53:10 PM
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Each day that passes there is more hope that it won't drop to freezing! :)
Here's hoping that your blossoms make it through!
Alee |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2007 : 11:31:12 AM
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The lights worked! For the most part, anyway. It got down to 21 last night. Most of the blooms look fine. Some toward the outsides and the top got bit, but it looks like I'll still get apples this year. Great idea, Michelle. I'm glad I took your suggestion. Now, I just have to trim up my tomatoes that got a little too cold in the green house...but they'll be fine too.
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2007 : 3:11:44 PM
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Yay! I am so glad that your lights worked! Maybe they should be left up all year so if this happens again all you have to do is plug in the tree?
What a clever idea, Michelle!
Alee |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2007 : 3:21:59 PM
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Do-do-do (me doing a happy dance). I'm just so very glad to hear it worked! Enjoy the heck out of your apple pie(s), you earned every last bit hanging those lights up. Can't for the life of me remember where I first heard that nugget of information. Down to 21 and it worked! Wow! I thought it would only work for a slight nip, but that really is impressive. I'm just so glad. Congratulations. I'll have to keep the Christmas lights with the gardening supplies now.
We make a difference. |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2007 : 3:44:15 PM
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Yep, I really like this. I do believe I will leave them up forever.
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2007 : 09:03:07 AM
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I can only imagine how much work you put into that! I hope you do get to leave them up, sit and have an ice tea (when the weather warms back up) and enjoy a great sunset under your orchard lights with your favorite company. :)
We make a difference. |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2007 : 09:13:08 AM
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That is absolutely TOOOOOooo lovely of a solution! Now I know what to do, also! You farmgirls are wonderful...
XOXO, Libbie
"All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar..." - Helen Hayes |
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Garden Gate: Cold weather coming - fruit trees in bloom - help! |
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Cold weather coming - fruit trees in bloom - help!
