Mike - that looks to be a hoop tube. Have you had any snow on top of that? Am guessing a tarp could be thrown over it in that instance.

For some time, I've tried to look at different ways to overwinter plants (and bulbs) that need dormancy/chilling in the 30F - 40F range outdoors, when temps might dip to single digits on occasion or in the teens more often. Until the past couple years, I was in a hi-rise with a balcony and am now in a rental townhome with a small (10ft x 17ft) patio where I have my container plants. There is no garage but a cool "storage area" in the basement that drops down to the low 60s/upper 50s in winter where I stuck my plumie, fig, and a salvia black and blue. Have tossed around the idea of a dismantle-able cold-frame, but I know my space is tight.

Jenny we didnt get any measurable snow this year. I do have a tarp that i used along with another green frost cloth when the temps dropped into the lower teens.

Mike that is great so see! Great job! I’m sure those trees are very happy. So you’re in 7a...that almost like here in Annapolis. We got some very cold temps this winter. Did you guys ever get into single digits?

Yours are looking a lot better than the one of mine that was the worst hit from the big freeze here in Louisiana on the 8b/9a line. Attached is a photo of a Louisiana Early Satsuma planted in 2016, that was my hardest hit tree from the big freeze here in January where the low hit 14F (All time record low here is 13F set in the 1940's)

When I counted the other day it had 8 green leaves above the graft line. This tree was covered with a blanket and had a string of C7 incandescent christmas lights for the big freeze. My other Citrus did much better loosing only 30-50% of their leaves

Mike, fantastic job! Do you still have have your greenhouse set up too? That was a nice one you had back in the day! Congrats !

Ike, I still see some signs of life there))

MIke

Nice job, I did a similar power-free version using a 300l water tank and storm windows around a eureka lemon. Worked fairly well, with some considerations.

Congraulations Mike I think you will be amazed at your in ground trees growth this year.

Ike I hope your tree pulls through.

Lowest temps in cincinnati -7F with several night below -2F. no damage. My seed grown in ground Fukushu was surrounded by 2 sets of double gazed low-E windows 'lower level' and an upper level of one layer of double glaze Low-E windows with an outside layer of bubble wrap. This was heated by a 72 watt halogen light bulb facing into the ground.

My in ground fourwinds NZL was behind double glass with an outside cover of bubble wrap. The top and both east and west ends were insulated about R-20. The inside was heated by a Pelonis disc heater set at 50F output of 350 watts.

Steve

Two layers of frost cloth, huh? Interesting. I use one layer and while trees survive, I still have a lot of branch damage. I will have to try double cloth next winter. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks everyone.

Laura. Yes we had a couple nights down to 5f. One stretch of below freezing for about 3 days.

Meyer Mike. Hey buddy. Not sure if you know but I bought a new house last spring so another greenhouse. However what I did was take mine from the old house and made it a lean to against the Southside of this one.

Ike that's stinks. I have a lot of friends in zones 8 and below that got hit pretty bad. Is Louisiana early the same as Armstrong? I know Armstrong came from Louisiana.

Bossy. Yes mainly 2. When it got below 20 I added 2 more layers.

Mike

No, Louisiana Early is a newer improved better flavor early variety released a few years ago along with its sibling St. Ann's, I also have an Armstrong early planted just a couple of weeks before the Louisiana shown in the photo, it is now almost 7 feet tall, vs about 4 ft for the LA Early shown in the photo.

Well done Mike, they are going to put a nice new growth this season, you just made stronger their will to live :)) They are going to love the sunny days!

Thanks Ike and sunshine.

Meyer Mike here is the new setup

Looks great mike You will be amazed at the drop in energy needed to heat your GH with it pressed against a red brick wall. Lets hope lots of flowers = lots of fruit

Mike that's insane !! Brilliant actually. Do you like it better than your last set up.? Too your trees look amazing. Such a gift you've always had and missed about here. Hopefully your back t kept us posted on your progress. I'm always amazed at your ability to grow them so well buddy. So green too. Love the idea about in ground. I can't believe you managed to fight off the cold the way you did. We have a member here from Japan that could learn a thing from you. Can't wait to see all the flowers and fruit

Do your other tropical plants like it in there like gardenia ?

Mike

mike, I love this design better. North wall of greenhouses are usually just a waste. Plus this has a lot higher ceiling than the last design. The house helps hold heat so well. I do wish i had made it a few feet longer. I may end up making it longer this fall.

everything seems to like the climate. I did try and overwinter a coconut palm a friend gave me. I didnt keep it warm enough. I have been keeping it above 50-55.

That gardenia is bullet proof.

Mike

That greenhouse looks great Mike!

Mike Your GH looks so much nicer than mine. You must have gotten your materials from a much better supply house.

Well, I think winter ended yesterday. Time to take off the covers and get things breathing and recovering.

It's going to be awhile here for 6b Steve.