Cold protection from seaweed extract

[ArronOB]

Winter is coming so as usual I’m thinking about how to protect my collection from the coldest nights.

I have read claims that seaweed extract improves plants’ cold (or is it frost) resistance. Example here:

Seaweed Saver – BioStim

Is this true? In which case how does one apply the seaweed extract to obtain maximum benefit? Is it simply a matter of dosing the plants once every fortnight or so in the coldest months. Or is the effect fairly immediate, such that you can spray immediately before a cold weather event, like the same day, and get some protection?

I’ve measured the temps every winter for the last two years and our pattern is to have July nights down to about 9-10 degrees Celsius, but with a handful of nights down to about 7 degrees. I try to focus on plants which are OK at min 10 degrees for a few weeks, but 7 degrees is pushing it.

So it’s these handful of 7degree nights which I am focused on. Fortunately our weather doesn’t vary much so we are not likely to get sudden very cold nights, or unseasonal weather events. Therefore I usually know when the coldest nights are coming and can take steps beforehand. Should one of these steps be to spray around some seaweed extract?

[Roberta]

I would have my doubts about the seaweed extract doing anything. Maybe somebody else has more information. From my experience (and that of much better growers than I am) the best cold protection is dryness... Water in the morning, so plants have a chance to dry out by evening, If a spell of cold nights is forecast, don't water at all. I have a yard full of plants that occasionally get freezing (0 deg C), or maybe just a bit above, and keeping them dry, all or nearly all survive just fine.

[Ray]

Over the past several years I've gotten much better versed about the roles of kelp extracts, and as useful as they are, enhanced cold resistance isn't one.

Also, you'll note their description mentions cold resilience, not resistance, that is, bounce back from cold stress, not avoid it. Any product that helps with active growth will do that.

Besides - that particular product, being dried, has lost most of its beneficial chemistry. There may be alginates in it that are good fuel for growth, but I wouldn't expect much more out of it.