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Re: Regarding "frost warning" help

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

I might be ignorant, but something from my Grade 9 science class is nagging
at the back of my mind about how when a substance changes phases (is that
the right word? ) from gas to liquid or liquid to solid, and vice versa,
energy is given off.  So, my guess is that by thawing the ice by spraying it
with water, energy is given off, thereby warming the plants and protecting
them from damage.  Farmers do it all the time in Florida with their citrus
crops.

For those of you who actually know what I'm talking about, feel free to
correct me.

Autumn
-----Original Message-----
From: Towey, Brian <cbt4489@glaxowellcome.com>
To: sqft@listbot.com <sqft@listbot.com>
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 4:06 PM
Subject: RE: Regarding "frost warning" help


>Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>
>> Regarding a suggestion that was given to Lisa:
>> Getting up early (b4 the sun rises in my area) to water spray my garden
in
>
>> order to prevent possible frost warning damage is something I will
>> definitely try NOW & in the fall. It sounds like the easiest possible way
>>for me (& clever!), but I'm inquisitive----how does this process prevent
>the
>>damage?
>
>As far as I can tell, this spraying-water business is based on the mistaken
>idea that ice cannot get colder than 32 degrees F.  Ice, of course, can get
>as cold as its surroundings, all the way down to absolute zero in places
>like Ottawa <grin>.
>
>If somebody has a good reason why frozen fog is more damaging than frozen
>tap water at the same temperature, I'd love to hear it.  Of course, if the
>water is warm and it warms up the plants so that they don't freeze at all,
>that would be different.  But, I have known people to encase their poor
>plants in solid ice cubes trying to prevent freeze damage.  As far as I
>know, it doesn't work.
>
>-BT
>
>
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