Valerian for frost protection

Does anyone have good information on the use of valerian for frost protection. The little bits and pieces I can find are helpful, but it doesn't appear there is very much specific to apples and spring frosts. With the potential for early bloom bearing down on us, we need to put all options on the table. Research and/or direct observations are appreciated.

Mike Biltonen, Know Your Roots
Zone 5b in New York

Mike, you may want to track down Hugh Williams in the Hudson Valley, as he has experience with this. It is in the biodynamic arsenal, though I couldn't find any real studies on its efficacy.

Walden Heights Nursery & Orchard
Zone 3 in Vermont

Todd,

Thanks. I know Hugh and have discussed briefly with him, but probably need to dig in on the details. Still it seems a fairly unresearched area even among BioD practitioners. I did call JPI and downloaded the one newsletter they had with a reference to frost protection. I have also read back issues to no avail -- there is very little info of any sort to be had. I'll keep digging and report. But for now I'll keep hoping that Punxsutawney Phil was wrong.

Mike Biltonen, Know Your Roots
Zone 5b in New York

It is surprising that there is so little info on Valerian. I must have read it in my early BD days. Here real frost damage in Spring is rare---only twice in 30 years did I get cute little rings on the bottom of my Bartletts...but from memory only I heard valerian can give you 2-4 degrees protection. In my "lower" blocks it is often 2 degrees colder than at my house and that is where my asparagus (very sensitive at 29 degrees or lower) patch is. So, I have tried it 3 different times--applied the night before expected 29 or less. Three drops in 3 gals stirred in the BD fashion for ten minutes and whisk broomed onto the patch and 5 feet around the perimeter. First time...it worked! White all around the block but green in the patch and the 5 ft buffer. And asparagus fine. Second time...it did not work but it got down to 25. Only the above ground stalks damaged and no plants lost--5 days later more asparaguses to eat. Third time...it worked even better---it did not get below 30! That's all I know, not much help I'm afraid...but felt I had to pipe in. And Mike tell Hugh Hi and coax him to pipe in once in awhile.

The Apple Farm
Zone 8b in California

I've been doing a lot of digging on this subject lately and plan on "publishing" my findings here shortly. It is difficult to find any consistent data or even a published approach, but there is information out there. What I do know is that the folks that use it (incl Hugh) swear by it. More shortly.

Mike Biltonen, Know Your Roots
Zone 5b in New York

There has been a recent discussion of frost protection recipes in the Spray Nuance forum, not on the topic of Valerian, but some of the folks following the Valerian thread may have something to contribute to the other discussion -- home made sprays, assessing freeze damage (20 degrees here last night).

Turkey Creek Orchard
Solon, Iowa (zone 5A)