This fact sheet provides information for estimating probable freezing dates for 114 locations in Alberta. Average dates of frost occurrence have often been used for this purpose. However, averages...
Description
This fact sheet provides information for estimating probable freezing dates for 114 locations in Alberta. Average dates of frost occurrence have often been used for this purpose. However, averages have limited value because they denote the 50 per cent risk level or the probable occurrence of untimely frost in, for example, five out of ten years. This may well be too much risk for economic viability in the long run. On the other hand, trying to avoid all frost damage by sticking to a limited number of hardy, short-season crops may not be profitable either. The indirect costs of lost opportunities could be very high. For planning purposes, it may be better to use an intermediate risk level, such as 25 per cent, where the advantages of growing a particular crop outweigh the risks of occasional frost damage.