At Jimboomba Community Gardens we have already had three frost periods this year and are expecting more.
It is common in our area and causes plants to be badly damaged or die.
Methods of frost protection include
*strengthening plants
*providing a barrier
*providing micro-climate
*early watering
Products that contain a seaweed extract strengthen the plant by increasing the thickness of the cell walls. A thicker wall is better able to handle the mechanical damage caused by the water freezing within the cell. The best way to utilize seaweed is to apply it fortnightly as a folier spray.
Another way to protect against frost is to provide a physical barrier. This can be a frost cloth, a sheet an anti-transpirant spray or by leaving leaves and branches that are already on the plant rather than removing them. Frost cloths work by trapping a small small amount of heat and by preventing the water droplets from forming on the plant. They can be left on during the day as they allow light through, so they are not demanding in management. Sheets work at night but need to be removed during the day.
Anti-transpirant sprays form a protective film on the leaf similar to a face peel and can be applied monthly after a seaweed spray. These used to be popular but are now more difficult to find. The last physical barrier is to resist the urge to remove foliage that has already been damaged. It may look unsightly but ut leaving dead leaves on a plant will protect it from further frosts.
Sometimes in the garden it is possible to use the surroundings to protect from frosts. Planting under or near existing trees will provide some protection as will planting next to things that store heat. These pockets within gardens are called micro-climates.
Existing trees act like an umbrella and can prevent frost from reaching plants. Objects also such as brickwalls, paths or bodies of water can store heat throughout the day and radiate it out during the night.
Finally if you are able to rise before the sun and spray the garden with a fine mist you can prevent some of the damage before it occurs. As a last note to handling frost, try work with nature and select plants that better deal with conditions.
If you have any other further inquiries drop into the garden and see how things are going here.