Frost resistance

[Carbon Gold]

Following the coldest March for 50-years we had a number of our customers say that their seedlings grown in our compost seemed to be more resilient. I thought I would share a few of the stories:

One customer emailed: "I just dug over a large pot of your compost this weekend, and I couldn't believe what good quality it was still in. There was a marked difference in plants that could withstand frost damage between those in Carbon Gold and those in just regular compost."

Another customer emailed: "I have had a splendid winter season with purslane now giving its 4th cropping and lettuces and radicchio doing well - they were planted in the all purpose and the greenhouse has been unheated. Pics attached."


And someone from Harper Adams agricultural college who was doing a small trial planted some lettuces in our compost that got covered in snow and survived whereas the one's planted in regular compost nearby died.

Fleece and cloches are both good ways to keep the soil warm for more delicate plants. I hope you Grapeviners managed to avoid any losses!

[zazen999]

a - what plants withstood the frost damage and what didn't?
b - purslane, raddichio and lettuces are frost hardy anyway, aren't they?
c - doesn't 'nearly died' and 'survived' mean they all survived?
d - do they need fleeces if they are in your compost or just if they are in other people's compost?

[Carbon Gold]

a - what plants withstood the frost damage and what didn't?
b - purslane, raddichio and lettuces are frost hardy anyway, aren't they?
c - doesn't 'nearly died' and 'survived' mean they all survived?
d - do they need fleeces if they are in your compost or just if they are in other people's compost?

a - I'm afraid I didn't get a plant by plant run down from the customer - it was just a quick email exchange.
b - yes, you're right but extra hardy in our compost it seems!
c - It says 'nearby' not 'nearly'!
d - fleeces are just an extra help for protection against frost with and without our compost

[zazen999]

a - I'm afraid I didn't get a plant by plant run down from the customer - it was just a quick email exchange. I think I'd need to know more about what plants survived and what didn't. Can you ask them?
b - yes, you're right but extra hardy in our compost it seems! What does extra hardy mean? It's either hardy or not isn't it?
c - It says 'nearby' not 'nearly'! Just checking it wasn't a typo!
d - fleeces are just an extra help for protection against frost with and without our compost - yes indeed...however if you are extolling the virtues of your compost then we'd probably like to know to what extent yours gives this extra resistance.

Comments in red above...

[Carbon Gold]

Comments in red above...

a - I have emailed the customer to check for you.

b - The plants all looked super-healthy to me in the photo!

c -

d - Covering with fleece is a great way to protect against frost - I was just adding another way to improve frost resistance, I wasn't claiming that plants grown in our compost wouldn't need it. Please bear in mind that I shared this feedback as anecdotal not scientific evidence!

[Carbon Gold]

Just had a reply from the customer I emailed re: what she had been growing in our compost that pulled through in the frost:

"Flat leaved parsley, chard and kale. All leftover seed that i had sown as a green manure for autumn. Kale and chard are clearly cold tolerant but these very young self seeded plants so I really didn't expect them to pull through."

[zazen999]

My flat leaved parsley, chard and kale was being picked all winter too - what didn't survive is more the question.

Not being unnecessarily pernickety but it needs more detail if people are going to purchase a product based on what is said here.

[optiminx]

Home made compost mixed with soil (of reasonable quality) also gives stronger, hardier seedlings than peat based compost or those made entirely from composted waste vegetation. The leaves are a darker green and the seedlings normally shorter and sturdier, rather than pale and etiolated from the chemical fertiliser present in bought compost. Raising seedlings in soil requires more attention to watering but they are less likely to all be devoured by slugs when you plant them out.

[marchogaeth]

And someone from Harper Adams agricultural college who was doing a small trial planted some lettuces in our compost that got covered in snow and survived whereas the one's planted in regular compost nearby died.

Randomised plot design?
How small is a small trial?
What sort of CofV and SD's are you planning for?

Was winter survival rate the purpose of the trial? If not why weren't the plot managers protecting each treatment equally so they could go through to harvest?

Empirical evidence should lead to an experiment IMO not be reported as a result.

[RedThorn]

CG, there's some tough nuts on the vine to crack. In god we trust, all else, bring data

[marchogaeth]

Just seen picture (added while I was posting, I assume). I am pleased for you customer but my over wintered greens in a north facing poly look just as healthy and they are growing in soil and compost that has been mulched with nettles and comfrey during the previous growing season. You can check the pict's on the "Things you do want to see thread" or on my profile page album.

[iam]

I also have had chard and kale survive the winter sitting in a raised bed made up by all the compostable material I could get whether composted or not to a depth of 8/9ins. then covered with 12ins. of soil.

[binley100]

My chard and kale also survived the winter as did my purple cape caulies which I am picking now. They are all growing in bog standard soil which had some homemade compost spread on it....also on the green manure side of things my phacealia and crimson clover have kept on growing.
Nothing was covered with fleece, just some debris netting to keep off the flying rats.......

[VirginVegGrower]

In the search for perfection in all weathers I have purchased a heavily remaindered tub of Biochar from Carbon Gold. I will be trialling it around my overwintering melon plants and hoping it affords them the ultimate protection.
I intend to distribute it liberally for best effect I think.

[binley100]

Whereas I would actually like some melon plants that grow long enough to overwinter........