Alabama prof works to raise plants' cold tolerance - NewsFlash - al.com

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — David Francko has urged people for years to try to grow plants in seemingly unnatural climates, and now he has co-developed what he calls "the holy grail of horticulture" — a spray that could increase a plant's tolerance to cold by as much as 10 degrees.

Francko, a biology professor and dean of the University of Alabama Graduate School, said the spray can be used to lengthen the growing season into the fall, protect plants from a late spring freeze and is intended for use by both commercial growers and backyard gardeners. He hopes it will be commercially available by the end of the year.

"Cold is the thing that causes the most economic damage, not just for farmers and growers but also for the home landscape," he said.