'Mid'winter update

17 years ago

I figure by about mid January we are rounding the corner as far as winter and after Jan 15 here in southeast Iowa that means only about 6 weeks of real winter weather left,being positive here!This is also the point that the temps start going back up,(although slowly at first)also its at this part of Jan that the daylength begins to increase rapidly,for example-in the first 15 days we gain 18mins,in the second half of Jan we gain 32mins.It gets better in Feb,in the first half 35mins,second half,37mins and in March as a whole almost an hour and a half!anyway thats the way I spin it this time of year to get through!

Now with all that said,of the truly cold hardy plants that are expected to survive only one of the 5(2 C.cerifera,2 wagxfort and 1 naini tal)that had spear pull has actually not survived,the others still look healthy and may just pull through if I take care of them through the early spring roller coaster of temps,everything else looks good amd the palms that are in their second winter have continued to grow.

So,here are a some soil(4-5"down) temps from what I would consider mid winter since its not going to be any colder for the next 2 weeks and looks to be warmer than the last 2 weeks.

The fan palms soil is actually the coldest,(even though they are kept warmer than the other palms)they have the smallest area around the trunks thats protected,next year I will mulch deeper around them as their roots will spread out more.Fan palm soil temp 4-5" down 35F,styro covers temp 38F,mini g/houses 41F and the large g/house is 44F

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Comments (10)

desertlvr
17 years ago
It continues to amaze me the dedication and hard work you guys in the Tundra do to over-winter your palms. We in Southern NM are fortunate to be able to plant about 20 or so species of palms (mainly Washys, Sabals, Rhapidophyllum, Serenoas, Butias, Braheas)with little or no winter protection, but seeing what you are able to do makes me want to push the zone thing and get a Bismarckia nobilis with winter protection. Jim, keep up the great work you do. I always enjoy your posts and pics. Very inspired. Happy 2009!
topher2006
17 years ago
Jim that's good news ! Keep protecting.
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islandbreeze
17 years ago
Jim- that's a good pattern of thought to keep those winter blues away. I get to go down my basement and water my palms and see how they've grown. That's how I get through it.

Desertlvr- I feel the same way when people in the southwest put so much hard work into trying to have a lawn. Its the idea of growing something where its not meant to grow that's interesting and fascinating.

One question though...you say that in New Mexico you're able to grow sabals...Do they require a lot of supplemental watering? How do they do with the lack of summer humidity? What varieties do you grow?
jimhardy
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the comments guys,I actually rent in the house I am in so who knows where this is all going?One nice thing about all the work(which I do enjoy)is that if and when I move I will have tried enough different protection plans to know what I can grow and how to do it,so,if I want,(and I do)I can plant some larger palms and really do a nice yard with some big fireworks!speaking of which,I am really looking forward to the banana plants this year,I have 3 that are pushing up leaves into the 9'foot ceiling!so they should easily get 15'tall this year!I hope.Heres to next seasons spring/summer,should be even better and BIGGER than last year!and I have a few surpises to throw in as well,should be a great one!
desertlvr
17 years ago
Jim, they are Sabal 'Riverside' and S. Mexicana. They are very drought tolerant, basically take the same amount of water as the Washys. The palms I have had to put in the least amount of work, with the least amount of watering, are the Brahea armatas, and the blue of their leaves make them a personal favorite. Very drought and cold tolerant. I have never protected them, and have never had any winter frost burn.
andyandy
17 years ago
Jim-
Good job, the only ones i have in the ground are about 6 Sabal Minors. We have had one night hit -1 (and I had them covered by upside down pots burried in about two feet of snow. a couple of weeks ago we hit 60 and they all looked good. I figure March 1st is when we kind of turn the corner. On the bright side we have been gaining sun for more tham two weeks now.
islandbreeze
17 years ago
Andy I agree. The beginning of March does seem to be the turning point here in SE MI. Definitely using the sunglasses a lot lately around here. I hope the sunshine continues and helps to warm the ground up for the sabals. I have mine protected with chicken wire cages filled with straw. I learned my lesson last year about putting plastic over them. They don't like it very much lol.
trachyhead
17 years ago
Apart from my trachies, butia, and chamaerops my sabal riverside is my only palm i have left out without protection as i have heard it is one of the hardiest sabals? We had our lowest temp for 4 years last night down to -7.2c and the ground has been frozen for well over a week now, so this is its big test! I hope it makes it as i have been nurturing it for several years now. Last night i managed to nearly burn down my garage trying to protect my parajubaea which has seriously backfired, i have now probably killed it by melted plastic sheet!!!!

Oh well :-(

{{gwi:1115275}}
jimhardy
Original Author
17 years ago
T-head,everything looks good except for the plastic and the side of your garage,hope your plants did not get burned!Did you catch that as it burned or did you find it in the morning?looks like a close one!

Hey andyandy,you definitely have the right idea by covering your sabals,I have noticed with mine that the winter sun is much harder on exposed plants even if they are protected.
trachyhead
17 years ago
Jim, i found it in the morning, it must have been quite a show for the neighbours. Some of the trachies have been badly burned and one of my novas, fortunately i have others.