Frost advisory has Essex County farmers and gardeners taking precautions

Essex County farmers are breaking out the wind machines and backyard gardeners are hauling their potted annuals indoors in the bid to protect their crops and plants from what is forecast to be another frosty night.

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Stephen Mitchell of Sprucewood Estate Winery fired up the wind machines to ensure his grape crop wasn't damaged by frost overnight Sunday and he plans on cranking them up again Monday night.

"Those wind machines are propane fired V-8 engines that will drive the propeller and what it does is it mixes up the air, some of the warmer air above, with the cold air below as well as creates air flow and both of these help support issues with frost," he said. "They've proven over the years to be a very effective tool at reducing frost damage."

Hopeful for good fortune

Doug Balsillie, who owns an apple orchard near Harrow, doesn't have wind machines because his farm opted to spend money on irrigation to help deal with lack of rainwater. His crop survived the first day of a frost advisory issued by Environment Canada and he's hopeful the good fortune continues.

"I'm not saying I'm not concerned but we made a business decision to mitigate our water woes rather than our frost concerns because, even for Essex County, this is a very safe location for fruit and vegetables," he said. "The risk is very real and we certainly spend some time worrying about it."

Balsillie's farm was hit with an unexpected frost in 2012 and lost "99 per cent" of its crop but it was the only such incident in three decades.  Balsillie said his farm is generally protected from frost because of its location near Lake Erie and both he and Mitchell are hopeful for a wind off the lake overnight Monday.

Balsillie called "-2.2 the magic number" and said his crops would be devastated if the temperature dropped any lower than that. The overnight low is forecast to be -1 C and Balsillie hopes that holds true.  

Bring home plants inside

If you're a home gardener with annuals or tender perennials in pots, you should bring them indoors for the night, said Roberta Pedrosa, garden manager at Your Secret Garden. If you've already planted them in the ground, there are still precautions you can take. 

"If you've planted some bedding plants like petunias or impatiens, I would suggest taking a cotton bed sheet or cloth and cover them," said Pedrosa.

She stressed to use a cotton cloth or bed sheet because a plastic cover would kill the plants. 

Mitchell added the only surefire way to guard against frost damage was a cooperative Mother Nature.

"You always, in this situation, are hoping for a little bit of help from Mother Nature," he said.