Around the County

For Release Week Of September 23rd 2002

By Craig Askim, Walsh County Extension Agent

Frost Damage to Field Crops

Small grains have a tremendous amount of tolerance to frost. Prior to jointing some research would show that wheat is able to stand temperatures down to 15 degrees. Barley will be more sensitive to frost in the boot stage as it flowers.

Edible beans are our most susceptible crop and temperatures from 30 to 32 degrees will kill them depending on their maturity. Any green appearing pods will be effected. Soybeans are sightly more tolerable then edible beans. Soybeans can take 28 to 29 degrees for about three hours.

Sunflowers can with stand 26 degrees in the cotyledon stage. They gradually become more sensitive as they grow older. Sunflowers in the 4 to 6 leaf stage will only tolerate 28 degrees. Flax will tolerate 28 degrees if it has a couple of true leaves out. Flax can stand temperatures in the low 20's after the second leaf stage and once it has had a chance to harden off.

If you feel you have a crop that has been damage to frost it is best to wait two to three days before you determined the degree of damage.

Frost Damage to Gardens

Crops such as tomatoes, peppers, watermelons, pumpkins, eggplant, melons, and cucumbers are the most susceptible to frost. Temperatures in the range of 30 to 32 degrees can cause damage to these crops. Carrots, beets, onions and potatoes are crops that can with stand low temperature for a longer period of time.

Crop Samples

The Walsh County Fair is only a month away so now is a good time to collect your crop samples for the Fair. There is a lot of different crops grown in the county so it would be nice to show case some of these at the fair. The prizes are nice with the top winner being reward with ten acres worth of free soybean or corn seed.

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