Reviving green beans from frost damage?

Lemonie 4/20/2013, 9:04 pm

We have had consistently warm weather this month and it suddenly dipped down to 34*F last night and caught be a bit off guard. silly me

I was expecting it to get only down to 40 and thought my pole bean sprouts would be safe...but they were in a droopy slump when I checked on them this morning. All of my cold crops are good and many of my summer seedlings are already planted and survived just fine. So, is there any hope in saving these bean seedlings? Since it was just a light brief frost, can I just make sure I cover them and pamper them a bit? Or is it better to compost them and plant new ones?

cheyannarach 4/30/2013, 10:11 pm

How are your green beans?

**donnainzone5** 5/1/2013, 10:58 am

My bush beans started to die after a frost late last summer. However, if they don't get mushy, there's a chance they will survive. Pamper them a bit, and let us know the results!

Lemonie 5/1/2013, 2:38 pm

I thought they might hold on a bit because the bottom and stems still seemed strong and crisp...but finally had to pull them and a few nasturtium and marigold seedlings. I thought the marigolds would be stronger for sure but I guess not. Sad

Our weather is supposed to stay consistently 48*F and above at night, so I've replanted all and keeping a close eye on those temps. sunny

cheyannarach 5/4/2013, 1:58 pm

Good Luck! I hope ours will turn around soon!

Pollinator 5/4/2013, 2:05 pm

Too late now, but keep in mind for future frosts. You can often save plants from a suprise frost - if you act quickly.

Before the sun hits the plants, start misting them with water. Don't worry if it freezes on at first. The water is giving up heat to the plant as it freezes. Keep a mist on the plants until the temperature is above freezing.

This technique has saved many a plant over the years. But you have to know the trick and be an early riser to take advantage of it.

It won't help, if there's a serious freeze - but it's wonderful in marginal situations.

Fruit growers know this - and many have watering systems set up that they can turn on as soon as the temperatures get near the frost point during the bloom time.

wcfujita 5/15/2013, 6:01 pm

I am so glad someone asked the same question because we had frost in our area the other night and I noticed my plants are all wilted. I think I might have to plant new ones Sad

I was gonna watch them for another day and then decide but I think most of them are done. So glad I found this forum, I just started SFG this year after someone loaned me the DVD on SFG.

Lemonie 5/15/2013, 10:08 pm

Ok, so apparently I like to learn things the hard way....

We had another night down to 38*F this time and I managed to cover most warm weather plants but couldn't get all of the green beans. These ones were a bit further along than the others and seemed to be mostly ok. There is some partial wilting on some of the leaves, but the stem and main head of the plants are solid and strong. So, I think that is the main difference on if they will make it or not...if the base of the leaves and stem top is still good. If all is just hanging there and the stem top is wilted as well, then they likely won't come back from that.

Getting pretty nervous about what this summer's weather will be like. Rolling Eyes

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Reviving green beans from frost damage?

Reviving green beans from frost damage?

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