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Freeze protection foam


iwan

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On the local news this morning they were highlighting vendors at the Tulare AG Expo, the world's largest farm services expo.  They were featuring a frost/freeze protection foam touting 10-20F protection.  Here is the link.

http://www.kenncomfg.com/fm0100.htm

Some of the pictures look similar to http://www.jackfrostfoam.com/latest.htm

I suspect it is way out of the price point that home gardeners could afford, but imagine the possibilites of a consumer product.  BTW, this company is in the backyard of one of our members down in FL.

Robert

Madera, CA (central San Joaquin valley)

9A

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It does look interesting, but still only good for places with short term freeze events and obviously works better in places with daytime heat that has warmed the ground below where the foam is applied.

]

Corey Lucas-Divers

Dorset, UK

Ave Jul High 72F/22C (91F/33C Max)

Ave Jul Low 52F/11C (45F/7C Min)

Ave Jan High 46F/8C (59F/15C Max)

Ave Jan Low 34F/1C (21F/-6C Min)

Ave Rain 736mm pa

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I am calling this company in the AM to find out what the price is.  Central Florida may be looking at a freeze on early Saturday morning.

NW Hillsborough County, FL (Near Tampa)

10 miles east of the Gulf of Mexico

Border of Zone 9b/10a

Lakefront Microclimate

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I saw a local TV station talking about it.

Tampa, Interbay Peninsula, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10A

Bokeelia, Pine Island, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10B

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I was in a rush to get out to work this morning and forgot to add some notes.  The rep was asked about applications for citrus trees and the reply was "under development".  Looks like something like this would have been great for Steve's young nursery.

Robert

Madera, CA (central San Joaquin valley)

9A

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Fantastic!  I wonder how well it works on taller plants/palms?  Could one foam a 40 ft tall palm and have the protection be effective (since their would be little ground heat to trap)?

Larry 

Palm Harbor, FL 10a / Ft Myers, FL 10b

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Has anyone called for pricing?  And I wonder why the differential in potential holding power, from as little as 8 hours on up -- For that record arctic event, more than one application might be necessary.

 San Francisco Bay Area, California

Zone 10a

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It is being used at Busch Gardens tonight to protect their landscaping.

Tampa, Interbay Peninsula, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10A

Bokeelia, Pine Island, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10B

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i believe the one applicator is $3200, I am not sure about the foam itself.

NW Hillsborough County, FL (Near Tampa)

10 miles east of the Gulf of Mexico

Border of Zone 9b/10a

Lakefront Microclimate

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(Ray, Tampa @ Feb. 16 2007,23:39)

QUOTE
It is being used at Busch Gardens tonight to protect their landscaping.

Ray-

Are they using it for taller stuff, or only the low lying plants?

Larry 

Palm Harbor, FL 10a / Ft Myers, FL 10b

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(tropical1 @ Feb. 17 2007,07:10)

QUOTE
i believe the one applicator is $3200, I am not sure about the foam itself.

Kyle-

Sounds cheaper to but new palms  :P

Larry 

Palm Harbor, FL 10a / Ft Myers, FL 10b

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Yes Larry, hedges and other tropicals close to the ground.  Containerized plants are put on their side.

Tampa, Interbay Peninsula, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10A

Bokeelia, Pine Island, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10B

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I would think it would work on taller palms too if you applied it while on a ladder.

NW Hillsborough County, FL (Near Tampa)

10 miles east of the Gulf of Mexico

Border of Zone 9b/10a

Lakefront Microclimate

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Are they going on their side just to use less foam?   I would have thought and  "tall" plants might be up high enough to escape damage..

Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

"The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

-George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

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I will definitely invest in a foam gun when they become available.   It beats sheets, blankets, frost cloth and all these other methods of cold protection.

Tampa, Interbay Peninsula, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10A

Bokeelia, Pine Island, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10B

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This foam is only for low growing crops and plants, like short row crops (that's what the TV news spot showed and said).

The principle of the foam is to blanket the entire row crop so as to capture and contain rising ground heat. Possibly, a secondary benefit, for taller plants/palms is that it might prevent frost from forming on the foliage.

It's supposed to last (the foam) for up to 24 hours. When done, you wash it off with a hose as it's biodegradable.

Mad about palms

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The reports from Busch Gardens were positive.  So much so that they plan to routinely use the foam in future winters.

Walt, the foam is only for low lying shrubs right now.  They will figure out how to make it work for larger specimens.

Tampa, Interbay Peninsula, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10A

Bokeelia, Pine Island, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10B

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(Ray, Tampa @ Feb. 22 2007,21:39)

QUOTE
 They will figure out how to make it work for larger specimens.

What they need to do is make the foaming process somewhat exothermic!  That would be the ticket.

Larry 

Palm Harbor, FL 10a / Ft Myers, FL 10b

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I wouldn't count on that one.

Tampa, Interbay Peninsula, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10A

Bokeelia, Pine Island, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10B

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(Ray, Tampa @ Feb. 22 2007,22:49)

QUOTE
I wouldn't count on that one.

Isnt the foam produced in the machine as part of a chemical reaction?

Larry 

Palm Harbor, FL 10a / Ft Myers, FL 10b

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In the interim, until they figure out what to do with trees, I think covering small trees with frost cloth then cover with foam.  Traps a lot of air under the frost cloth and (maybe) saves foam, since you are covering a uniform surface.

The applicator is not as expensive as I would have imagined.  The big question is the foam cost.

Robert

Madera, CA (central San Joaquin valley)

9A

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(iwan @ Feb. 22 2007,22:54)

QUOTE
 The big question is the foam cost.

Although I could replace alot of palms in my yard (probably the lions share of them) for the $3200 of the applicator, I was wondering the same thing about foam cost.

Has anyone found out about this?

Larry 

Palm Harbor, FL 10a / Ft Myers, FL 10b

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This stuff is strange, and new to me!

Jeff

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

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I just can't believe this will catch on with nurseries.

Jeff

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

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I did'nt see a price per square foot for this product. I'll look into it.

Jeff

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

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(spockvr6 @ Feb. 22 2007,22:18)

QUOTE
What they need to do is make the foaming process somewhat exothermic!  That would be the ticket.

Larry,

You don't need another way too  cook...... I mean protect your palms! :D

Scott

Titusville, FL

1/2 mile from the Indian River

USDA Zone COLD

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I think I may have answered this several years ago maybe on this forum.

The substance is alleged to be porous to gaseous exchange and therefore should "breathe".

It has been used here in UK in apple and pear orchards to spray fruit buds to protect against early frost.

(Not so many years ago an unexpected early Spring frost had decimated orchards in southern England and northern France; it had simply flowed along the channel as frost flows as sure as does water indeed.)

Apparently the substance does require a second application later.

Regardez

Juan

Juan

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