[nafex] Protecting trees from late frost

Folks, I wanted to share a current experiment I'm working on to try to
protect fruit trees from late spring frosts. I'm in NM at 7000. We
almost never get any standard fruit because of the late frosts.

I've been trying to design and build tents that would go over the trees
on those nights when there could be a frost after the trees have
flowered. I've been using PVC piping and connectors to create a
lightweight framework over the trees (they are all small trees). I'm
working on a running power out to the fields where the trees are and
setting up a system of 30 watt outdoor halogen spotlights so that I can
put one in each tree tent. The tents will be covered by 6 mil plastic on
cold nights.

We have ferocious winds here in the spring. I'm experimenting with a
system of staking down the frames and using bungee cord to hold the
plastic in place.

It struck me recently that there are often only one or two nights of
frost that ruin the season's crops. On other nights the plastic would
not be put up on the frames and so wind would not be an issue.

To make this system work I need to stick with true dwarf trees.
Semi-dwarves would become too big to cover.

Another advantage of the frames is that it would allow me to cover
plants with bird netting when fruits are ripe and also to shade certain
plants that are not very tolerant of our high UV.

Anybody had any experience with what I'm trying to achieve?

Regards,

Jay

Jay Cutts
Director, Cutts Graduate Reviews
Lead Author, Barron's MCAT Prep Book
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(505)-281-0684
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On 10/11/2016 8:41 PM, Jim Fruth wrote:
> Apparently I should have mentioned...................The isolated pear
> tree out in the countryside produces viable seed. My own pear tree
> that has suddenly started to bear fruit produces seeded fruits. No
> seedless fruits here.
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Alan Haigh
> Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2016 6:31 AM
> To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [nafex] pear pollination
>
> Pears are quite capable of parthenocarpy under the right spring
> conditions. If days in early spring are warm and sunny, many varieties
> will bear a full crop of seedless fruit. When S. CA had a commercial
> Bartlett industry some growers didn't even plant other varieties in their
> orchard according to Childers in his classic "Fruit Science".
>
> I suspect that this is the reason for confusion over what varieties are
> self-fruitful- it all depends.
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