Using Farmbot to defend against frost

Gardening Tips and Tricks
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I have a question for the more experienced growers and plant experts on this forum.

With climate change, we have seen a number of unseasonal cold snaps in recent years. In fruit growing, when freezing temperatures hit after blossom has already appeared, some farmers spray their trees with water. The flowers then become encased in ice, which helps protect them from frost damage.

This made me wonder whether FarmBot could potentially be used in a similar way for vegetables or other sensitive plants. For example, could it help by spraying a very small amount of water or mist onto plants at regular intervals, say every 15 minutes, during a frost event? If there is any merit in that idea, I am thinking of perhaps modelling a dedicated 3D printed watering tool specifically to generate a fine mist for that purpose.

I do not know enough about the underlying plant science or frost mechanics to judge whether this is sensible or completely misguided, so I would be very interested to hear whether any plant expert here thinks this could work in practice.

Would this approach offer any real protection, or would it risk making things worse for vegetables?

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Hi there
Whilst it would be possible to make it spray and move, it would have to be warm water and then it would be required almost continuously - else the mist would freeze - making it worse.

It was an idea, but I think it would have the opposite effect.

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Thanks for your reply. I take your point about the mist freezing but the ice encasing the flowers on those fruit trees I mentioned is actually what protects them. I appreciate that it sounds counter-intuitive (hence why I am looking for more information).

Alternatively, I am still researching whether actual water (rather than mist) would be a solution when temperatures fall just below freezing. In my part of the world, water comes out at 8 - 12°C in the spring. This could perhaps provide just enough energy to prevent the plant itself from freezing if that water it sprayed at regular interval.

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Interesting. I did not know that and you are right, it is counter intuitive. :grin:

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In case it’s of interest, there is a good explanation here: Frost Protection – a critical component of fruit farming - Parlee Farms