sdillow said:What's everybody doing tonight to protect their hops? I have four, some just breaking through and some several inches. Thinking about buckets over each with an old comforter over all. Thoughts?
I did not cover anything, I had figured if any bines did get damaged from frost I could trim them off since I'm supposed to be triming anyway(which I dont do). Got a pretty good frost here and all seemed to do fine.
Growers Notes: Using water as frost protection.
Sprinklers do work well to provide frost protection. The reason it works is because water gives off about 1 1/2 degrees of heat as it turns to ice. This doesn't sound like much heat, but it is enough to keep the forming ice and plants just above the freezing point. However, this effect only occurs while ice is FORMING - so continuous sprinkling is required to keep producing "heat". Also, ice ABSORBS about the same amount of heat as it melts - so it is equally important to leave the sprinklers on until either the ice has melted off the plants or the air temp has risen above 35 degrees. It doesn't take a lot of water; so adjust your sprinkler to provide a finer, low volume spray. (no need to flood the neighborhood )
I will turn on sprinkling at 34 degrees and leave it on until the ice is melting and crumbly.
Mature hops are frost tolerant and really don't need much protection unless you have really soft green shoots and the temp is going down into the mid-20's.
I also cover young plants with cloth before setting up sprinkling - the ice forms on the cloth, making a self-supporting dome. The plants remain relatively dry underneath.
Wolfhound180 said:Mine are about 7 inches tall right now an I'm in Ohio. I think that it is fine to put them in the ground now.
MichaelsBrewing said:Thanks for the response. I think putting them in the ground is in the near future.
Cheers & happy growing.
Growers Notes: Using water as frost protection.
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