A neglect and rescue.

[Barrie]

I planted some Trachycaprus fortunei seeds 3 years ago and basically left them unattended during that time. I wasn't overly concerned since I already had 500 on the go and so these sat neglected. Rain, frost, snow, heat, drought and over ridden with weeds, these somehow survived and my wife potted them up over the past few days. They where left in the back 40 and here's the before and after pics.




These are some tough palms. Cheers, Barrie.

[Arctic Palm]

Thats really neat. good job Barrie!!!

[Wes North Van]

I have found them growing in my grass and in areas where they don't get any water and no protection in the winter. Like you said Barrie, amazing palms.

[Cowtown Palm Society]

The legend of the Trachy grows! Unreal!

What's especially remarkable to me about the survival of those seedlings is that they were not in the ground.

Barrie, this means they probably survived lows between -5 and -10 Celsius, at some point, in those little plastic pots? Even a few rare days that didn't get above freezing?

[Wes North Van]

We haven't had a day in a long time that did not go above freezing and I am sure the same goes for Nanaimo.
My low last winter was only -4C and I think Barrie's was the same.
A trachycarpus fortunei breezing by in temps like that, potted or not.

[Barrie]

Wes ... it wasn't just winter lows that where a factor here. These where left for three years and the lowest temp during that time was likley no colder than -7c (19f). The lack of watering, weeds so thick there was virtially no soil, snow piled up on these a foot deep for a week, soggy leaves from my maple tree pasted on them 6 inches deep, summer heat. The list goes on.
Not all palm seedlings made it though, about 20% died in this experiment, and the others will surely go on to a long life here.

Cheers, Barrie.
(P.S. one night at -3.7 celcius last winter)

[Cowtown Palm Society]

We haven't had a day in a long time that did not go above freezing and I am sure the same goes for Nanaimo.
My low last winter was only -4C and I think Barrie's was the same.
A trachycarpus fortunei breezing by in temps like that, potted or not.

Wes, the blast of November of 2006 (the seedlings were out for three years apparently) came to mind here. I remember watching the Seahawks play at home in freak snow around this time.

YVR Nov. 28 /06 High: -4 Low: -12
Nanaimo: High: -4 Low: -10

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/index. ... e=cabc0205

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/index. ... e=cabc0195

My point was that a pot that small could freeze solid in these conditions...tough plants apparently!

[Barrie]

Late Nov. 2006 was chilly rather early in the season. The Weather Network ? ... and they likely gather their info at the Nanaimo airport (Cassidy) about 30 miles away from my home in Lantzville, where the coldest night was -7 centigrade back then (according to my digital equipment).

Cheers, Barrie.

[Wes North Van]

Like Barrie I do not live near the airport. The Vancouver airport is at the end of the fraser river and the fraser canyon is where the cold air from the north east comes from.
My low was -6.7C and my high was +1.8C on the coldest day.
Also if you get your info from the weather network or should I say the Toronto weather network they are never right.

[Cowtown Palm Society]

Also if you get your info from the weather network or should I say the Toronto weather network they are never right.

Weather Underground / Environment Canada will give you the same numbers if you're convinced of a Toronto weather conspiracy...but it sounds like you've got yourself a remarkable micro-climate!

I love how defensive West Coasters get about their weather. I have family / friends in Lower Mainland who haven't seen snow in at least ten years! Must be aToronto media conspiracy that I watch on the news 3-5 times a winter !

Anyhow, my original query was whether or not those amazing little seedlings has endured temps between -5 and -10...yes, I suppose is the short answer?

Cheers,

Duncan

[Barrie]

Hey Ducan ... not defencive, just clearing up some misconceptions. Terrain and proximity to the ocean plays a huge roll in weather here. Forecasters can't be precise because weather changes in very short distances. The difference between readings and weather at Nanaimo airport and my place are sometimes quite striking. That makes records for Nanaimo nearly a waist of time unless you live close to the airport. Environment Canada does seem to pin-point some areas more accurately although there's no way to be specific with and great detail. Heck, even the difference between my place and a short drive down hill into town is noticeable many times.

Cheers, Barrie.

P.S. no snow in ten years! BS

[Paul Ont]

You find the same inaccuracies in forecasting/reporting in Nova Scotia too... The weather for Halifax is given from the airport (inland) and is generally warmer in summer and colder in winter... A good example is when I was driving into town and it was snowing near Truro, freexing rain at the airport and raining in the city! It was really amazing to see the difference!

FYI I couldn't believe the recent weather forecast for Vancouver... 32 degrees! Wow... I was there 2 weekends ago for a race, and I was wearing long pants and a jacket the entire time (literally the entire time, I don't think it got above 20, the sun did make an appearance, which was a nice change from my last visit!). I do love the west coast, the plants are amazing! But now I see why Sabals and Washingtonias are so rare!
Also, have those Jubea at English Bay grown at all? I swear they didn't appear to have pushed out any new leaves in the last 2 years! Not that they look unhappy, but man they are slow growing!

[Wes North Van]

Paul,
You are right, two weeks ago it was cool here. We thought summer was never coming but it did warm up and get above 30C. It has been nice and warm for about a week and a half now. I hear it is suppose to stay like that right through the summer. That would be nice.

Cowtown, nowhere in the lower mainland has it not snowed in the last ten years. I live in probably the best if not the second best microclimate in Vancouver and we have had snow the last three years although very little. We did get a stretch of 7 years once without snow, I had 2 to 3 inches last winter that lasted 2 or 3 days here this winter. I know the Island receive a lot more as did the Fraser valley but downtown Vancouver and the waterfront in West Van/Western North Van received what I have mentioned already. No offense to Toronto or anywhere else, I just find the Weather network ridiculious. The first year it was on TV they didn't even mention BC in their foiecasts. Enviroment Canada is much more accurate but again they take their stats from the airport.

[Barrie]

Also, have those Jubea at English Bay grown at all? I swear they didn't appear to have pushed out any new leaves in the last 2 years!

I personally can't say for certain, but they have grown considerably since being planted 8 years ago. They're located in a zone 9a micro-climate of the city and will need a leg up until they become substantial in size.

Faster and dead easy are Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm). Unheated winter cover has proven to be enough for these and once larger, gathering the fronds together in an upright fashion and a small shelter has been successful in similar British climates. I've had one 3 years in-ground now and this year is the first with any substantial growth.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Wes North Van]

I believe they have grown a fair amount but let's face it these are a slow growing species.
They will nice for our great great grandchildren.