Betty is your Myer Lemon in the ground then? I put mine in a pot last year and greenhouse it in the winter, because my brother in law in Houston does the same, and houston, I think is zone 9 even? I thought they were pretty cold sensitive.
Freeze coming... what to do? Part Two
Most of my citrus are in pots, especially my variegated Meyer Lemon. My other Meyer lemon and the 2 orange trees are in the ground. They were in 30" pots, and needed re-potting. It was easier to get them into the ground. Meyer lemons are more cold sensitive than kumquats and Satsuma oranges, which can be planted in the ground here, but hardier than other citrus. They will need some protection when the temperatures get down to 23ºF, the coldest it has gotten here in the last 7 winters. That puts me, according to the new plant hardiness maps, barely into zone 9a. I know I am taking a chance because we are out of the citrus growing areas of the valley and the coast, but it was getting to be a chore to get them in the greenhouse every year. I've planted them on the southern side of the house. Zone 8a would be pushing things, at least for lemons, but I read an article, in Texas Gardener, featuring Neil Sperry's citrus in the Dallas-Ft.Worth area. He has his in the ground, but he does erect a temporary greenhouse around each one.
Neil Sperry actually lives closer to McKinney which is 60 miles north of Dallas. Everything towards the Red River is always much colder. I live 14 miles south from downtown Dallas and it is not quite as cold as north. Dallas metroplex covers such a huge area that it is hard to know what to watch when it comes to the weather report. I am at least 35 -40 miles from DFW airport where the official readings are taken. Never is what we have here.
I lived in Florida for 27 years. When the temps were going to drop to 32 they either A. lit smudge pots. Which they don't do in the present day or B. Ran the sprinklers the whole time it was 32 or below, which is what they do now. That way the ice would insulate the tree and fruit. If the temp was 32 or below for more than five hours that's when the damage would occur. So I would say nearer the coast you don't see temps at or below 32 for five hours too often. Around here we do, did last night. So I'd keep mine in a pot. Otherwise I would be setting sprinklers at midnight. What a water bill. I don't have citrus here.
We spent the entire day shoving pots into our temporary greenhouses. Was a beautiful sunny day in the high 70s, and we didn't even get to enjoy it. I'm exhausted, but glad to know it's going to only be in the mid 30s tonight. We're going to have freezing temps tomorrow night, tho. I'm too tired to even cover what's been left outside. The last 4 yrs I've said, "that's it...no more plants...it's too hard to keep them over winter!" And then I find something I don't have and the game is on again! It's a terrible addiction.
I spent today moving plants in the gh. got em all in. I do have some I need to cover but am going to wait until probably tomorrow pm. Does anyone ever wrap their brugs with pipe insulation? I wrapped some of mine with it as some of my tall ones that are too tall to cover this year. We have not had a freeze here so far this season but it has been pretty cool and windy.
I have my GH full too. I'm not covering the big pots tonight. We just had a good rain on top of me watering them so the roots will be ok. It was 79 here today and is now 53 with a predicted low of 38. Now tomorrow the low is supposed to be 28. I might go cover my clematis as it just opened a blossom today. I'd hate to see it frost bit. I will put the boxes on the other clematis and hot lips.
I did hear of someone using pipe insulation on their brugs. I thought it was a great idea. I thought next year when my brugs are in the ground, I'd put pipe insulation around the main trunk and bubble blanket the top parts.
I was looking forward to resting from gardening this winter, but so far I have worked harder carrying plants in and out, rooting cuttings and potting them up. But they are worth it. What else do I have to do?
Styrofoam pipe insulation? Hmmm... good idea! LOL At least the wind couldn't rip that off as easily and I'd bet it is easy to install.
Bigbubbles ~ It is an addiction. I say no more "tropicals" Yeah right! I just acquired the purple firespikes that need winter protection... But I'll have them next spring. Shaking my head at myself!
Firespikes sound cool! I have the red ones, but they only bloom in the fall for me. I've given sooo many plants away, and still have enough to take to the next swap...and I keep pinching stuff and potting up the cuttings. Why do I do that? I don't have room for the momma plants, much less the babies! And I got an e-mail from Buried Treasure for a 24 hour, 50% off sale....so I ordered 6 hibiscus. I think I need more serotonin.....
think..... htop in San Antonio posted about using pipe insulation last year for brugs. I bought some from HD and misplaced it. Luckily, we had a mild winter so I didn't need it.
If I remember what someone else posted, the purple bloom at bit earlier than the red. The red was late summer/fall for me too. The problem with giving plants away, those plant people want to give plants back! I think the trick is to find a newly interested gardener and load them down.
sorta like cucumbers, huh?
Yep and zucchini too! I have found a few victims to share my succulents with. Made for less to bring in this year.
AAAHHHH! it's going to be around 27 tonight and only 46 for a high tomorrow with clouds. How does a GH heat up without the sun? Fri night is supposed to be 28. Then 32 for a low Sat. night. I don't remember it getting that cold this early in the last three or four years. I have to go out in it tomorrow. I'm glad my car has heated seats.
LOL ~ heated seats? You hot house flower!!!! * )
I get the Neil Sperry gardening newsletter and received this weather alert with some good info. Some may be worthwhile for any new gardeners that read this thread...
Quoting:
Special Freeze Alert For Tonight!
Weather experts are predicting the coldest temperatures so far this season tonight across some of our state.
Here are critical precautions you may have overlooked.
• Water your plants during the day today if you possibly can. Moist plants suffer less cold injury than the same plants that are wilted as temperatures drop to their lowest level overnight.
• Disconnect and drain all sprinklers and hoses.
• Old-style freeze-proof faucets were only freeze-proof after hoses were disconnected.
• Wrap exposed faucets standing above ground if temperatures in your area are expected to drop very far into the 20s. Foam insulation wraps help, but keep an eye on them to be sure dogs and rodents haven't chewed holes in them.
• Check controllers of automatic sprinkling systems to be sure they will not run when temperatures are below or near freezing. It's not safe, and many cities have levied fines accordingly.
• Plants growing in containers are usually 10 to 20 degrees less winter-hardy than the same plants grown in ground beds. That's simply due to the fact that their root systems also will freeze. You may need to move such plants into the garage for 24 to 48 hours, until temperatures moderate. The garage, however, is not a suitable place for long-term storage of plants.
• If you have woody plants that are not especially winter-hardy in your area, or if you have flowering plants whose blooms you would like to protect (pansies, snaps, pinks, ornamental cabbage and kale, etc., also camellias), you can gain several degrees' of warmth by covering them with lightweight "frost cloth." Weight it down so that the gusty winds will not blow it off the plants.
• Plants are damaged by actual low temperatures. Perceived "wind chill" temperatures are often 5 to 15 degrees lower in cold, windy weather. However, wind chill does not do additional damage, other than the fact that winds are always drying to leaves at any temperature.
• Be mindful of your pets' and wildlife's need for water and food during this cold spell and those that will follow.
Well dang. I have two big pots out by the rock wall of butterfly bushes. They received water and rain yesterday. The tops are mulched and they have two jugs of water under the sheet with them. I piled up leaves all around the pots to the tops for extra insulation. I hope I don't lose them. They are just too big to put anywhere but outside. It's ok if the top growth dies, I just don't want to lose the roots. Everything else is fine. At least my two peonies will be happy.
I suspect they will be alright. You have them covered and mulched well. The roots should survive. Weather only peonies and rhubarb would love ~ LOL
Podster, I appreciate the info!! This very question was on my mind, "Is it better to water or not to water plants during a freeze?" I wasn't sure if the roots would suffer from watering or not!! All the answers are right there....thank you!!
And I would love to grow peonies....I dreamt of them before I knew what they were!
I brought all my delicate and small plants into the garage again yesterday, the temperature went down to 29 last night, but my outside plants didn't freeze, I was hoping to see some frostweed ice sculptures this morning but no luck yet.
Josephine.
Hi all, this year we surely are getting hit early with the cold. I'm suprised to find those in further South as far as 8b to get in the 20'ish this time of year too, like ours here on 7b. Thanks Pod for the helpful tips above.
Josephine, does frostweed ice form even under very dry conditions? The humidity levels this year have been unbelievably low.
We had to go grocery shopping today and nearly froze. Old folks are either skinny or fat, it seems, and the less fat you have the colder you get. It wasn't so bad going to and from the car BUT I have never figured out what HEB is so darned cold. I used to think it was just in the meat and dairy depts. but the entire store is freezing. Do they think they are saving on costs? Pretty soon people will stop going there because it IS so cold. Have any of you ever experienced this in your grocery store?
Ann
Yes Veronica, it forms ice under dry conditions because the moisture comes from inside the plant as it explodes.
well, we got down to 33, a far cry from the 28 predicted. I'm not complaining. So far today we haven't been past 47. The sun did shine enough today to warm up the GH. I am thankful for that. WE are supposed to have a low of 32 tonight. The birds don't seem as frantic to eat so I don't think it will get lower than that.
Grocery stores all always cold to me especially in the meats dept.
I thought we were getting hit early with such cold temps too Lily_Love. But what do I know. This is my fourth winter here. Anything is colder than south Florida where we lived in for so many years.
Hi TxGrower, the wind shifted from west to northern wind. That's when the cold will arrive here. Tonite will be the coldest evening for the season. I've found some aphids invasion on my brugs last week, I brought them outdoor to isolate them from the rest from the gh. But, I'm just through bring those brugs back indoor. Brrrrr.
We are supposed to be a little warmer tonight than last night, thank God. My big potted brug and smaller one, the poinsettias, egg tree and mandevellia vine are in the workshop. All the rest of my tenders are in the GH. The ferns, potted cannas, begonias, and hydrangea are on the front porch where it stays about 10 degrees warmer than the temp. The brick absorbs the heat and gives it off through the night. Everyone is covered just as a precaution.
Is it spring yet?
I know this sounds crazy, but I much prefer winter to summer. I just can't handle Texas heat. I turn into a hermit, or maybe a vampire — only coming out late in the evening and at night.
We didn't get as cold as predicted last night. It's supposed to get down to 31ºF. My in-ground plants are covered and have fared the low temperatures well so far. My Brug 'Audrey Hepburn' has tip frost damage despite a burlap and bubble wrap cover.
I can handle spring. Now if we had spring like weather all year. That would be something!
I was just watching the weather and they are saying there might be a really strong cold front coming through in a little over a week. He said temps could be the lowest seen in years. I do hope he is wrong!
Kim
OUch, I hope they are wrong! Tonight it is to be upper 20s and already only 33 degrees! Grrrrr. C'mon springtime! I thrive in summer heat and when the days are cold and dark, I tend to grow hair on my face and rip throats out!!! LOL
Anne I agree on the cold, cold stores. It just doesn't make sense. Retailers know the longer they can keep us in the store, the more money we will spend.
We were colder last night than the night before. It was 28 when we got up this A.M. There was frost on the ground, but warm enough in the GH.
Okay Kim, you just had to burst my bubble in hoping for warmer temps didn't ya? ;) What does he mean coldest in years anyway? How cold is that? I don't mind the cold if it's not for weeks on end. I personally don't mind cold weather. It does cause certain joints to hurt on my body, but I can live with that. I hate what it does to my plants. I lived in Florida for 27 years, most in Tampa and SW along the coast. Winter lasted about four days. I got tired of being hot all the time. Samer old clothes, couldn't open the windows for fresh air but 2 months out of the year. At least here I can open windows and have a change in wardrobe. I can cool off.
Now I don't turn into anything, but you might want to ask my hubby about that.
We are supposed to go down to 38 tonight. It was a beautiful day here. I got gypsum put down in the places I am putting brugs and butterfly bushes next spring. Will keep adding it to the soil through the winter so it's ready for all the plants when I'm ready to plant. My back yard is mostly clay. Rock hard or slick, never good. The gypsum should take care of that.
It's cold(er) here earlier this year too....even my cardinals were sluggish and didn't come to the feeder as often during the day. :((
Well, last night we saw 29 degrees. It took forever to warm up this morning. My buddies Ralph and the Podster were badgering me to go for a walk and I was lolligagging around. Finally, I bundled up ( enough clothes that if I tripped I would roll right back up on my feet ~ lol ). We were walking by the pond, me, with my head down due to the cold temps when I looked down and saw something that made me run back to the house for the camera.
Frostweed, this is for you. Brrrr.... but beautiful.
This message was edited Dec 6, 2008 8:26 PM
Delighted to once again enjoy this plant. This was at the base of the Pluchea odorata ~ camphor weed which was a pretty plant y'all IDd for me earlier this summer. Thank you.
This one was a bit more ornate...
Oh Podster, it is so nice that you thought of me, aren't they beautiful?
It is a very pretty phenomenon. I would not have even been aware of it but for you sharing the Frostweed photos when they have spun the frost. I've not seen the Frostweed plant but have seen this on two other types of plants now. Thank you.
Nice pic! It was 27.7° last night here. I didn't check the Frostweed this morning, but it most likely zapped some of them. I've been sick...just getting better now, so I don't go running out in that kind of cold if I can help it. Nice and warm later in the day.
Oh Linda, sorry you have been sick, I hope you get well soon.
Okay, we're expecting down in the 20's this week, so I wrapped my brugs for the winter today. All are supposed to be cold-hardy, but you never know. I decided that I wanted to put on something that didn't have to come on and off every day like the bubble wrap does, so I went for pipe insulation. I really hope it works, because it's cheap and VERY easy to use. You can wrap it as thick as you want and tie it right on with no clips or tape or anything. Looks like it'll dry out pretty fast, too, so hopefully it won't even have to come off when the sprinklers come on.
Yes, having to put on/take off that bubble wrap is getting old and it winter hasn't officially arrived yet. We're expecting winds up to 30 mph. I'm going to have to tie down the bubble wrap or it will be in the next county.
Josephine, I'm fine now! It was just one of those bugs that doesn't let go of you easily. And I get the feeling that this winter isn't going to be a mild one, either.
I get the feeling it's going to be a cold winter. Our winds are unbelievable right now and have been all day. It blew my potted brug over and broke two leaves. But, the buds are all intact. I put her in the workshop to protect her from the winds.
Tomorrow night will be 32 according to the paper. Weather Bug says 35. Either way, another cold night. Wed. will be only in the 40's for a high.
I like the idea of pipe insulation. I am going to try to make most of my brugs standards. The taller ones anyway. The insulation will protect the main trunk. I will probably try to make a bubble wrap blanket for the branches. I hope to leave a foot of each branch. Of course it may not happen, but I'm going to try. Let us know how the insulation works pbtx.