Frost damage protection

I live in Central Maryland. Last year I took a big hit from spring freeze so this year I ordered a row of covering material from:

groworganic.com (888) 784-1722

It was a 83 inches by 500 feet and the cost was about $167.

They claim they sell to a lot of vineyards out there in California.

I just have a small backyard vineyard of about 110 vines. It could get expensive if you have a lot under production.

Would covering the buds with a little 'tent' that doesn't touch the bud work? If there's no wind, a layer or three of newspaper (folded like smaller versions of the pirate's hats we made as kids?) might suffice; otherwise something a little more substantial might be needed. This would keep frost from settling on the buds, though wouldn't stop direct freezing of the buds.

Thanks Paul - I'll check this out.

It so happens that I live just up the hill from the HQ of 'groworganic.com' (Peaceful Valley Farm Supplies). I'll look through their site for sugestions. I know they sell a spray on polymer like stuff that supposedly prevents transpiration, thereby reducing radiant heat loss during a frost night.

Does the covering work? I thought about coverings, but it didn't make sense to my small brain. as best I understand it, frost is the result of radiant heat loss into sub-freezing air, resulting in frost-bitten new shoots. does the vine transpire enough heat that the cover can hold in to prevent the frost freeze? Curious.

Anway, I need to put in a sprinkler system this next season. I'll problably lose the majority of the primary shoots this year - which means a less than 50% crop. &*^$@#&*$

I don't know.

I put in on this year for two days and nights because the temps were supposed to get down to 25 degrees. It actually only got down to about 29 degrees one night.

I would talk to the people at groworganic. They claim that a lot of grape growers use the material. There are several grades of it.

I have a set of catch wires about a foot above my cordon wire so I just draped it over these wires and attached with those springy paper clasps. I bought about 200 small ones at Staples fairly cheap. The two ends did not quite reach the ground but the people I bought it from said it would still offer protection as long as it was close to the ground.

I had a heart breaking season last year so I was not going to take a chance this year. My bud break is excellent this year.

Sounds good - will chat with the folks at PV. I've just had that hertbreak. Two consecutive nights of frost. UNtil now, I was having a wndeful bud break. Longest shoots were about 3", most half of that. All now gray and withered. There goes what I was hoping was going to be a banner crop.

For sure I am installing a fine mist sprinkler system this year. Like you, I've only got a small vineyard (about 200 vines) and one or two nights of frost can wipe out the bulk of a season.

Interetsing - the muscat have thus far avoided forst damage. They are on a steeper slope abov the rest of the vineyard. I'm guessing that the air movement down that slope is enough to give them a degree or two more protection.

Could be. I am on the side of a hill near a ravine. I think the cold air moves down and settles before moving more down the ravine.

My Cabernet Sauvignon came through it best last year, BUT the Racoons got most of those. At first I thought it was birds but then I observed that the grapes were being eaten in the center of the row. Birds usually start at the ends. I had netting up but the racoons were too cleaver. In five days, I trapped 5 racoons. I am putting out the trap EARLY this year.

I am going to put a bottom wire in about a foot or a foot and a half from the ground and that way I will have something to hook the net onto under the vines - also something to clamp the cold protection material onto.

It is really gut wrenching to know that you have to maintain the vines this year even though you won't get much reward.

Good luck.

Paul

Part of it was my own fault. I had a compost bin near my last row. That was probably like ringing the dinner bell. I feel now that the best looking racoon is a dead one besides the road. Same for deer.

I have seen a BIG fox in the vineyard on several occasions. Perhaps he will put racoon on his meal schedule. I use to see a LOT of rabbits. Hardly any now.