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Flax Tolerance to Freezing
Light frosts sometimes injure flax in the seedling stage. Seedlings just emerging are most tender, but even those will withstand a moderate frost, especially if the soil is moist and they are not injured further by drying winds. After the plants are 2 or 3 inches high and are hardened by exposure, they may endure temperatures as low as 25 F for a short time without serious injury.
Flax is most susceptible to cold damage during flowering and early boll stages. The immature seeds, which may contain as much as 75 percent moisture, will likely be killed by freezing temperatures that do not completely kill leaves and stems. The degree of injury from freezing is dependent on the minimum temperature, condition of the plant, the soil moisture and weather conditions both before and after freezing.
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