Is it freezing at your place? What is going on in the Valley?
Calalily give us an update
I have photos, just need to upload them and resize. I should have plenty of time as it is freezing outside and everything is covered with ice.
Monday and Tuesday we spent covering everything with Agribon frost blankets (heavier than remay). Some were first covered with remay, then the frost blankets. Temps fell to 34 and stayed there overnight and thru Wednesday then fell to 29 and stayed there for most of Thursday when it rose to 30. Last evening it started raining. Woke this morning to everything covered in ice. Trees are bent to the ground, palms have lost fronds which were broken because of the weight. Two of our citrus orchards are covered by insurance, our newest one is not. It will be a while before we know if those trees have made it. Bananas and papayas are history. Cuban Royal palms we won't know until spring if they are alive or dead. Sabal palms, Canary Island date palms and Washingtonias are hardier.
(okay retyping, computer just deleted half a post)
Last night I raised the ice encrusted frost blanket to harvest cilantro. It was not frozen. I haven't checked this morning under the covers. Broccoli, cauliflower, beets, onions, carrots and a few other things that were not covered (older plants, should have survived if the forecast had been more accurate) are covered with 1/4 inch ice. I won't know how they are until they thaw out. Tomatoes, eggplants and peppers, even though they were covered with heavy felt (the kind you put under boulder walls) are frozen. They were full of green fruit, almost ready. It was just too cold for too long, over 36 hours below freezing.
It will be a long road to recovery, but we've done it before. Just more to plant this time.
Power goes off and on because of rolling black outs.
My friend Scarlet from the Dolphin Research Center has been out for hours with volunteers rescuing sea turtles stunned by the cold. So far they've rescued over 300 and are back out this morning. There will be floating fish in the Bay from the cold. So much for global warming!
Thanks.
How sad is this! We all know how much work you and your husband put into your operation. Hope you get back on your feet soon.
I guess this is pretty much the same story across most of the Valley.
I have some cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, and carrots frozen in the garden. I'm thinking about harvesting this morning before the thaw and going straight to the freezer with the veggies. I will wash them when I take out of freezer prior to cooking.
I remember from last year, the cabbage and carrots were okay after a 24 hour below freezing and I think the turnips were also. According to Texas A&M, carrots, onions, spinach and turnips are the hardiest and can take a freeze. Cauliflower is more tender than broccoli and the older the plants the more hardy they are. We have potatoes in the ground and they will resprout. Some were ready to harvest. I hope they're okay.
Lady CalaLily!!
So sorry for your losses. I will keep you in my prayers for enough of a future harvest to recover.
Linda
Calalily - I am so sorry for the loss of your harvest. I'm sending warm thoughts your way - hope it helps :)