Sodium alginate for spring frost avoidance with grapes.
I have been experimenting with frost avoidance techniques and practices at the Rist Canyon Vineyards for the past few years. In fact, Most years I wouldn't have a good crop without the Alginate.
My vineyard is located in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains above 7000ft. At this location, late spring frosts occur every year. A marginal grape growing region with a short growing season needs methods to prevent late spring frosts from destroying the grape crop before it even starts.
This is especially true this year, 2004, as our area has experience record highs for the month of March for over two weeks now. The vines are already bleeding when pruned meaning that dormancy has been broken. I normally am getting the majority of my yearly precipitation in the form of snow during the months of March and April. Sodium alginate has been applied to the vines and it should prevent early budding during this warm period.
The research and development of the sodium alginate method of frost avoidance was done at Colorado State University by Dr. Cecil Stushnof and Imid Dami The idea that these scientists came up with is to chemically delay bud break until the weather is frost-free. The solution is sodium alginate. Alginate is a naturally occurring kelp extract. It is painted or sprayed onto the vine spurs and canes after mixing it with 1M sucrose solution. This is then followed by a cross-linking spray of calcium chloride. The calcium chloride hardens the alginate/sucrose mixture on the vine so it can't be washed off. Alginate applied this way delays bud break 2-3 weeks allowing the vine to pass through the spring frost period. In years where a very early warm period occurs in the spring, the alginate may have to be applied twice to extend the protection period. Maximum protection is achieved when combined with delayed pruning (another traditional frost control method). This means of frost control has been used commercially in New Zealand vineyards with good success.
The Sodium Alginate Frost Avoidance Treatment® Can also be used for preventing premature bud break when rooting cuttings. This makes it so the cutting puts all its energy into callus and root formation. This assures you that your cuttings have a good root system started before the shoots begin to grow.
Would you like to try the sodium alginate treatment for frost avoidance? I have available pre-measured amounts of the sodium alginate and the calcium chloride cross link spray for those that would like to experiment with this method (with directions for how to use them). This is enough to treat up to 250-300 vines. I'm offering this treatment for $15.00 plus 5.95 shipping and handling for those that would like to try this frost avoidance treatment.
You can order the sodium alginate treatment by credit card online through our secure server, just click on the button below:
or you can send a check or money order for $20.95 with your name and address to:
Jim Bruce
P.O. Box 33
Bellvue, CO 80512
I'm not set up to sell large quantities to commercial vineyards. If you are a large vineyard, you can contact me for information on how to apply the alginate to a large number of vines and for a the price to obtain a license to make the alginate yourself.
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